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Home Automation Updated August 5, 2025

Hold on thermostat

Hold on thermostat keeps your heating or cooling system running longer to reach the desired temperature. It’s like giving your HVAC system extra time to finish the job.

Category

Home Automation

Use Case

Used to temporarily pause or override scheduled temperature changes on a thermostat.

Variants

Manual hold, Smart hold, Vacation hold

Key Features

In Simple Terms

What it is
A "hold on thermostat" is a feature that lets you temporarily override your thermostat’s regular schedule. Think of it like pausing a movie—you’re stopping the usual plan to make a quick change, but the original schedule will resume later.

Why people use it
People use this feature to adjust the temperature for short-term needs without messing up their usual routine. It’s handy when your plans change unexpectedly, like if you’re home sick on a workday or hosting guests late at night.

  • Saves energy: You can lower the heat or AC when you don’t need it, then go back to normal.
  • Adds comfort: No need to reprogram the whole schedule just for a few hours.
  • Simple fixes: Perfect for one-time changes, like warming up a chilly morning.

  • Basic examples
    Imagine it’s a weekday, and your thermostat is set to lower the heat at 8 AM when you usually leave for work. But today, you’re working from home. Instead of changing the entire schedule, you hit "hold" and set the temperature to stay cozy until noon. After that, the thermostat goes back to its normal plan.

    Or, suppose you’re going to bed early and want the house cooler sooner. You can "hold" the temperature lower for the night, and by morning, the thermostat resumes its usual settings. It’s like a temporary detour before getting back on the main road.

    Technical Details

    What It Is


    A "hold on thermostat" is a feature found in programmable and smart thermostats that allows users to temporarily override a scheduled temperature setting. It falls under the category of climate control technology, specifically designed to provide flexibility in heating and cooling systems.

    How It Works


    The hold function works by interrupting the thermostat's pre-programmed schedule to maintain a manually set temperature indefinitely or for a specified duration. When activated, the thermostat ignores its usual time-based adjustments until the hold is released or expires.

  • Manual Hold: The thermostat maintains the user-selected temperature until manually reset.
  • Temporary Hold: The override lasts for a set period (e.g., 2 hours) before reverting to the original schedule.
  • Smart Integration: In connected thermostats, the hold can be activated remotely via apps or voice assistants.

  • Key Components


  • User Interface: Buttons or touchscreen for activating the hold function.
  • Control Board: Processes the hold command and overrides the scheduled settings.
  • Sensors: Monitor ambient temperature to maintain the held setting.
  • Software: Manages hold duration and reintegration with the original schedule.

  • Common Use Cases


  • Unexpected Schedule Changes: Maintaining comfort when occupants stay home longer than planned.
  • Energy Savings: Temporarily adjusting temperatures during unoccupied periods without reprogramming.
  • Guest Comfort: Overriding schedules to accommodate visitors' preferences.
  • System Testing: Holding a temperature to verify HVAC performance or diagnose issues.