Constantly adjusting your home’s temperature settings to find a comfortable interior climate by bedtime can be frustrating. One benefit of smart or programmable thermostats is that you can create programs that automatically adjust temperature settings throughout the day or week. If you use this type of AC technology, understanding the difference between hold and run settings is important.
Understanding Hold vs. Run on Thermostats
Hold and run are specific operating modes available on many programmable or smart thermostats. They tell the thermostat computer whether you want to go with a set program to manage temperatures or ignore programs.
What Does Run ” Mean on a Thermostat?
Run, or run schedule, is a setting that tells the thermostat to run the programmed schedule. Depending on the type of thermostat you have, you create the schedule directly on the device or through a smart thermostat app.
Here’s how it works:
- You define daily time blocks. For example, you might divide the 24 hours of each day into At Home, Sleeping, and Away times.
- You set temperatures. During the summer, you might want it cooler at night when you’re sleeping and warmer during the day when no one’s home to save on energy use.
- You set and forget. You can let the thermostat manage interior temperatures for you, reducing how much you have to think about. If your schedule doesn’t keep your home at the right temperature, you can try different programmed schedules and get AC maintenance service if nothing works.
What Does Hold Mean on a Thermostat?
Hold is a mode that overrides the schedule. When you’re in hold mode, your thermostat holds a consistent temperature and doesn’t run the program.
Common reasons to use hold include:
- You’re going on vacation and want your HVAC set to a fixed temperature while you’re gone.
- You have guests and want consistent comfort for them.
- You’re working from home or off work on a day you’d normally be out, so you want to avoid the thermostat going into “Away” mode.
- You need a specific temperature in your house for an activity, such as painting.
- Your normal schedule has shifted, but you haven’t had time to set a new program yet.
Depending on your thermostat brand, you may have access to more than one hold type. Permanent hold prevents the thermostat from running the schedule until you choose “run” mode. Temporary hold only keeps it running until the next scheduled change in the program. You’d use a permanent hold if you’re going on vacation, but you might use a temporary hold to keep the house from warming up during the day because you’re home sick from work.
How Hold and Run Affect Energy Use
Most people use run mode to run a programmed temperature schedule that reduces energy use. Using hold mode typically increases energy use in these cases.
Here’s an example:
- Imagine it’s winter and you set the temperature as follows:
- At Home: 72 degrees Fahrenheit
- Sleep: 70 degrees Fahrenheit
- Away: 65 degrees Fahrenheit
- If you skip the “Away” setting for several days because you’re working at home and keep the temperature at 72 degrees the entire time, your HVAC system works harder. That draws more energy, which can increase your energy costs.
What if You Don’t Have Hold and Run Options?
If you like the idea of these options and the potential convenience and cost savings of temperature programs, you may need to upgrade your thermostat. Consider talking to an HVAC professional who can recommend options and what might work with your existing system.
