I got my UTH and thermostat in...

What size is your tank? UTH won't heat a tank by itself unless the height is low.

Check the temps of everything with an ir gun...snake, hide, substrate. Make sure your snake is 88-92f and ambient gradient is correct.

I use a 60watt heat emmiter on one side of a 30"l from 10a-630p on a timer and belly heat is always set at 96 but the substrate is 88.

It's only a 15 gallon tank.

try covering half to trap some heat

I have it covered partly with multiple layers of foil. It's more than half, maybe 2/3 covered?

I've been checking with my temp gun and the substrate will only get above 85 as well if I use the heat lamp also.
Is it even worth it to use the UTH if it doesn't seem to be doing anything, even when I have it set at 94 or 95? It just doesn't seem to be doing anything temp. wise.

What are you using for substrate and how thick is it? You should be checking the temps under the substrate more than on top, since he is more than likely going to burrow under it anyways.

2 layers of paper towels. And I just checked under them and the temp was quite a bit higher.
So now I'm confused. Is the UTH not supposed to be enough to raise the ambient temp on it's own? Or should I be less concerned about the ambient temp and more about the surface temp? And should I move the thermometer probe onto the floor under the paper towels or keep it on the side?

Personally Im more concerned with belly heat, then making sure gradient temps are correct. As long as I start out with ambient temps above 80 on the hot side it's easy to get them up.

I think we're going to get a dimmer for the lamp today. It seems like it needs to be on just enough to get the ambient temp up a bit, but doesn't need to be on full strength with the uth.

Sorry for being such a pita, I'm just paranoid when it comes to my pets (and kids lol).

Don't know what type of light you have, but some cannot be dimmed.