Sometimes your schedule just won't do the trick, and you need to shake things up. When this happens, you get the chance to tweak it a bit or even overhaul it completely. Whether it's a quick fix or a long-term change, this flexibility is your friend. So go on, take that step to craft something that truly works for you.
In this guide, I explain how to enable and disable these functions.
What is a temporary hold and how do I turn it on?
The temporary hold feature, lets you suspend a programmed schedule. This is so you can adjust the current temperature to your desired level until a certain time. You will be able to input how long you want the “hold” to continue, usually up to 11 hours.
Some models without this function will resume the schedule on the next programmed period (your display might indicate a “Hold Until” time).
For most models, you can easily turn on a temporary hold by pressing the +/- or up/down buttons. If it is available, you will have the option to set a Hold Until time, giving the hold a fixed period.
How to turn off a temporary hold
If you change your mind, you can cancel the temporary hold at any time to resume your usual thermostat schedule.
This can be done easily by pressing Run, Cancel, Run Schedule, Use Schedule, Remove Hold, or Cancel Hold, depending on your Honeywell thermostat's model.
Other models might have a ↵ button instead, for canceling the hold. If you are finding any difficulty in doing this, you can refer to your user manual/guide for instructions. Click here to find the user manual for your Honeywell thermostat.
What is a permanent hold and how do I turn it on?
The Honeywell thermostat permanent hold feature, unlike the temporary hold, lets you manually set the temperature. This is for an indefinite amount of time, overriding the programmed schedule completely.
For earlier models, this was the only temperature hold option where you press the HOLD button and then toggle the keys to set your desired temperature.
If you have the newer Honeywell thermostat models, such as those with touchscreen functionality or an app to configure your settings remotely, you can press +/- or up/down buttons to override the thermostat schedule.
Afterward, check from the options below to see which steps apply to your Honeywell thermostat model:
- Press Hold or
- Press Hold Until, then either of the following: Permanent Hold, Switch to Permanent Hold, Permanently, Permanent
How do I turn off a permanent hold?
Turning off the Honeywell thermostat's permanent hold setting is easy. It is usually the same for turning off a temporary hold.
Depending on your model, you can go ahead and press Run, Cancel, Run Schedule, Use Schedule, Remove Hold, or Cancel Hold.
For other models such as the T4 Pro, press the +/- or up/down buttons first then press Cancel or Remove Hold. If you have the Lyric™ T5 Wi-Fi, press Pe
In the next section, I’ll show you how to set up these hold/override features for each model.
Model-Specific Instructions
Ranging from the T10 Pro to the PRO 2000 series, any Honeywell thermostat with a programmable schedule will allow users to override it.
So now, let me walk you through how to enable/disable these hold features for each model range.
Schedule Override for T10 Pro and T9 Models
Smart thermostat with a color touchscreen
- First, change the mode on your Smart thermostat to “Heat to” or “Cool To.” You can’t override the schedule if it’s following the “Auto” Mode.
- Then, press the up or down arrows on your thermostat to set the desired temperature
- Once you change the modes and a temperature setpoint, a “Hold until” message will appear at a specified time if scheduling is enabled.
- By touching this message, you can choose from various hold options, such as “Next Period,” “A Specific Time,” “Permanently,” or “Remove hold.”
- If you select “A Specific Time,” you will need to choose the desired time for the hold to end.
- After making these changes, press “Done” to return to the home screen.
T6 Pro Smart/T6 Pro Z-Wave and T5+
Smart thermostats with touchscreen
For these models, the temporary hold enables you to change the set temperature for up to 12 hours, while the permanent hold maintains the set temperature until manually adjusted.
For extended absences, you can also set up a vacation hold that maintains a low-power temperature for an extended period. However, this mode is only accessible through the Honeywell Home app.
Setting up Temporary Hold
With the temporary hold feature, you can quickly change the temperature until a specified time.
- Tap on the “+” or “-” buttons to adjust the temperature
- Then a “Hold Until” message will pop up on the screen along with the time
- To change this period, tap on the time and wait for it to start blinking
- Then use the “+” or “-” to set the hour and minutes you want the temporary hold to end
- Don’t forget that this is the clock time and not a timer from the moment you engage the temporary hold
- Tap on “Hold Until” to confirm changes
- Return to the home screen
To cancel a temporary hold, touch the “Hold Until” message and then tap on “Run Schedule.”
Setting up Permanent Hold
- Tap on the “+” or “-” buttons to adjust the temperature
- Then a “Hold Until” message will pop up on the screen along with the time
- Then, tap on “Hold Until.” Another message called “Permanent Hold” will show up
- Tap on “Permanent Hold” to enable the permanent setting.
T6 Pro and T4 Pro
Programmable thermostat
Honeywell's T6 Pro and T4 Pro thermostats offer temporary and permanent hold features.
Setting Up Temp Hold
A temporary hold allows you to adjust your thermostat’s temperature without impacting your programmed schedule.
- To use this feature Press “+” or “-” to set your desired temperature.
- This change will be maintained until the next scheduled time begins, and no additional actions are required.
- To cancel the temporary hold, press “+” or “-” again and then hit “Cancel.”
Setting Up Permanent Hold
On the other hand, a permanent hold allows you to override your entire programmed schedule.
- To initiate this feature, press “+” or “-” to set the temperature and wait for the “TEMPORARY HOLD” display to appear.
- As the setpoint temperature flashes, press the “Hold (Mode)” button to activate the permanent hold.
- If you wish to revert to your normal schedule, press “+” or “-” and then “Cancel” to cancel the permanent hold.
9000 Series
Programmable thermostat with a color touchscreen
To use the temporary/permanent hold feature in the 9000 Series:
- Make sure you’re in the “Home” tab
- Then, touch the up or down arrows on the right side of the screen to adjust the temperature.
- After that, set the “Hold Until” time on the left side.
- The thermostat will maintain this temperature until the designated time, then resume its regular schedule once the time expires.
- Tap on “Done” to confirm or press on “Switch to Permanent Hold” to maintain the setpoint indefinitely.
To go back to the scheduled program from either temporary or permanent hold, touch “Cancel Hold” at any time.
VisionPRO 8000
Programmable thermostats with touchscreen
To use the hold feature:
- First, move over to the home screen by tapping on the “Home” tab at the top.
- Then, tap on the up or down arrows on the right side of the screen to adjust the desired temperature
- Then, select permanent hold or use the up and down arrows on the left side to set the hold until time.
- Then, press “Done” to confirm the changes.
You can simply cancel the hold by tapping on the “Cancel Hold” option at any time.
FocusPRO 6000 Series
Programmable thermostat
- To adjust the temperature, simply press the up or down arrows. This will immediately change the temperature setting for the current time, but it will only last until the next programmed time begins.
- If you want to cancel the temporary setting at any point, just press CANCEL.
- On the other hand, if you require a long-term adjustment to your thermostat's temperature setting, you can use the permanent override feature by pressing HOLD.
- The adjusted temperature will now be maintained 24 hours a day until you decide to change it or press CANCEL, which resumes the programmed schedule.
RTH6500WF Model
Programmable thermostat
Setting up Temp Hold
- By simply pressing the up and down arrows on the device, users can immediately adjust the temperature to their desired level.
- However, it's important to note that this change is only temporary and will be maintained until the next programmed period begins.
- If the temporary setting needs to be canceled sooner, simply press the “Cancel” button, and the thermostat will resume its programmed schedule.
Setting Permanent Holds
- If you wish to override their thermostat's schedule permanently, you can press the “Hold” button.
- Then, set the desired temperature, using the up and down arrows.
- This new temperature will be maintained 24 hours a day until a user manually changes the setting or presses “Cancel” to resume the programmed schedule.
PRO 4000 and 2000 Series
Programmable thermostats
- When you need to immediately adjust the temperature, use the up or down arrows for a temporary change.
- This alteration only lasts until the next programmed period begins.
- To cancel the temporary setting, simply press the RUN button. Don’t forget to set the system to heat or cool beforehand.
- For a more lasting change, you can press the “HOLD” button after adjusting the mode and temperature.
- This new temperature will stay in effect until you either manually change it again or press the RUN button to cancel the ‘Hold' and resume your regular programming.
Benefits of the Hold/Schedule Override Function and When to Use It
The hold function offers significant benefits for users looking to temporarily adjust their thermostat's schedule.
With this feature, you can easily accommodate unexpected changes, such as vacations or last-minute gatherings, without having to completely reconfigure the thermostat settings.
The temporary hold is suitable for when you only require a brief change in temperature, such as during a short nap or a quick lunch with friends at home.
On the other hand, if you plan to be away for several days, the permanent hold feature can help you conserve energy by maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your absence.
Setting your thermostat to a modest level before activating the permanent hold can significantly lower your overall energy consumption, ultimately resulting in a reduced energy bill.
Conclusion
The hold or schedule override feature will help bypass the programmed schedules and let you control the smart thermostat similar to a regular one.
In different models, the allowed time range for a temporary hold may vary so make sure to switch between temporary and permanent holds according to your needs and preferences.