Has anyone else had any issues with their Zoo Med under-the-tank heaters?

I have it hooked up to a rheostat and it is dialed as low as it can go but my probe is saying it's at 110.5-degrees. Obviously, this isn't the temperature on top of the substrate, but as it was pointed out, our snakes can still burrow and risk the potential of being burned.

Should I place a towel underneath the substrate to lessen the chance of Atticus being burned?

Sorry if I seem like an idiot here...