Here, we answer the question: What does Permanent Hold mean on a Honeywell thermostat? Of course this begs the question of why would permanent hold ever be ON in the first place? Well, the permanent hold feature on many programmable thermostats lets the user override scheduled temperature programs. Then they can set the temperature manually. Now when a thermostat is following its schedule, it is not on permanent hold. Thus, it changes its set temperature to what its program says at times of day, also dictated by the program.
But with the Permanent Hold function on, you suspend these scheduled temperature adjustments. Then, the thermostat stays at the displayed temperature setting either indefinitely or until the next programmed temperature change.
So why would you ever want to put a Honeywell thermostat on permanent hold? Well, perhaps your house is too chilly on a cold winter night. So you’d like to stop your pre-scheduled temperature lowering just for that night. Or, maybe you don’t like the temperatures set by the current program, but don’t know how to change them. Thus you must wait for your tech savvy daughter’s next visit to get that done. In cases like these, using Permanent Hold is a handy solution.
What Does Permanent Hold Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat: Starting It Up
We show here how to set the permanent hold function to ON, on our Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat. In this demo, we start off with our thermostat set to Following Schedule. But this same procedure works when temporary hold is in effect. It’s just the name of the Hold button that changes.
1. Go to the Honeywell Thermostat’s Home Screen
Here’s a shot of our t-stat’s Home page shown next. Note that our Honeywell thermostat says that it’s following its schedule.
Also note the temperature setting buttons on the right side of the screen, as circled in the next picture.
2. Tap Either the UP or DOWN Temperature Buttons
Tapping either of these buttons brings up the Hold Options screen, as shown in the next picture.
Then, continue tapping these buttons repeatedly until the temperature you want to keep in effect during permanent hold appears. In our example, we set our permanent hold temperature to 77 degrees.
After you set the new temperature, the Hold Options screen looks something like the following.
3. Tap the Switch to Permanent Hold Button
When you touch the Switch to Permanent Hold button, the thermostat screen changes as follows.
Note that the button that now appears just beneath the large indoor temperature numbers. It says “Switch to Temporary Hold”. When you see this, then you know that the thermostat is indeed currently in Permanent Hold mode.
4. Finally, Tap the Green Done Button
Then, the thermostat returns to the Home screen, as shown next. But notice now that the Following Schedule status no longer appears. Instead, we see a button in its place, that says “Permanent Hold (press for options)”. Here the Honeywell thermostat is now in permanent hold. The temperature set is holding at 77 degrees.
5. Done !
What Does Permanent Hold Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat: Stopping It
We show here cancelling the permanent hold function on our Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat. In this demo, we start off with our thermostat set to Permanent Hold.
1. Go to the Honeywell Thermostat’s Home Screen
Here’s a shot of our t-stat’s Home page. The Hold button may say either Permanent Hold, or that Temporary Hold is in effect. It indicates temporary hold by saying when the hold will end.
2. Tap the Hold Button
Find the Hold button near screen center and bottom. Now this button should say Permanent Hold. But if you see no button, with the phrase Following Schedule, then your thermostat is not in permanent hold. So you need not turn off this hold.
Tapping the Hold button brings up the Hold Options screen, as shown following.
Pressing Cancel Hold stops Permanent Hold.
3. Tap the Cancel Hold Button
When you touch the Cancel Hold option, this turns off the permanent hold. Then the thermostat returns to Following Schedule mode. It again displays its Home screen.
But now, notice that the Hold button no longer appears. Instead, we find a link label that just says, Following Schedule.