I hear you, and this is a common scenario. Many substrates insulate the heat - keep most of the heat under the substrate.

A lamp dimmer helps alot and is easy to get/use. A temperature controller with a probe is best - in that case you need to fix the probe onto the heat pad under the cage.

Here are some other suggestions that you can try:

1. If the substrate is not as deep, more heat comes to the surface and is easier to monitor. Substrates like packaging paper allow the heat to reach the snake, again making it easier to monitor and control. Luckily, kings are very good at thermoregulating, and they will stay clear of temps that are too warm.

2. Placing a piece of ceramic or other tile above the glass over the heater helps distribute the heat better, and it buffers it better than glass alone.

3. An alternative to #2, if still too much heat, use two pieces of tile stacked. My favorite is one large piece with a smaller piece fixed to it on top with silicon or velcro. This makes a gradient over the whole tile assy.

4. Side heat. Use a deep layer of coir fiber, and attach the heat pad to the side of the tank mostly (but not completely) below the substrate line. The snake can burrow into the coir and access the heat. Lean a hide against it, like in the pic 2. But not a rock hide, maybe a foam hide like in pic 1 with the gecko. That is pink foam sheet cut, glued and painted.

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