What Does “Hold” Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat? My story

What does the “hold” mean on a Honeywell thermostat? My story, mistakes and tips to use it properly for comfort and energy savings.

When I first installed a Honeywell thermostat at home (after a catastrophic “Why is AC on Midnight?” experience), I was hit by the mysterious “hold” button. I pushed it down and thought, “Okay, this will stabilize the temperature so I don’t have to babysit it all day.” It turns out that it does exactly that, but with a few changes. In this article, I will tell you what “hold” actually means, how it varies depending on the model, when you should use it, when not to, and how to make the most of it (especially during holidays). This isn’t just a dry manual , it’s a real-life reflection on comfort, control, and even a bit of Personal Growth & Lifestyle learning. I’m sharing what I discovered (and the messy mistakes I made) so you don’t have to. What Does “Hold” Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat

Account

What is a “hold” in the first place?
Temporary hold versus permanent hold: What is the difference?
Holiday teams, long -term override
When (and why) to use “hold”, use of reality
How to Cancel Hold/Return to the Schedule
Advanced details and pitfalls you should know
Energy and cost implications
Troubleshooting common grip problems
My personal journey: How I took control of my thermostat
Summary and conclusions
Question to ask

1. What is a “hold” in the first place?

In the core, pressing “Hold” on a Honeywell (or many other programmable) thermostat causes the device to lock into the current temperature setting and override the previously programmed plan. (alarm network)

Imagine this: You have programmed your thermostat to rise to 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning, release to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon, and then drop to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. But on an unpredictable afternoon, you will have it on a steady 70 degrees Fahrenheit, not fluctuations per plan. You press “Hold” and Boom, that 70 ° F stays in place until you tell you something else.What Does “Hold” Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat

In more formal terms:

Keep instructs the thermostat to maintain the set temperature until the holder ends (either by timer or manual cancellation). (alarm network)
It ignores scheduled changes until the stop is cleared. (alarm network)

When you interrupt the hold or it ends (in some mode), the thermostat begins to follow the programmed plan again. (Honeywell Home)

One trick I learned (the hard way) is that in many thermostats, just adjusting the temperature (+/ -) will cause a “temp hold” screen to appear, which means you temporarily override the schedule. (Honeywell Home)

2. Temporary hold versus permanent hold: What is the difference?

Knowing that only “holding” is not enough comes the subtle difference from the type: temporarily versus permanently.

Hold Type	Duration & Behavior	When It Ends / How It Expires

Temporary Hold	Overrides schedule temporarily, holds the new temperature just for a limited time	It automatically ends at the next scheduled change or at the time you set (“Hold Until”) (Alarm Grid)
Permanent Hold	Locks temperature indefinitely	Doesn’t expire automatically , persists until you cancel it manually (Alarm Grid)

Temporary stop (or “pause to”)

Use this when you want to override the schedule briefly, for example for the afternoon, or for some time you specify.
You can see a message like “Stay to 18:00” on the thermostat screen. (Honeywell Home)
After that time, the thermostat automatically begins to follow the normal plan. (Honeywell Home)

Permanent hold

This happens when you want to ignore the schedule for the time being, and think of holidays, long weekends, or when you do not want the schedule to mess with rest.

The team remains in place until you manually tell the thermostat about “running plan” or “cancel hold.” (alarm network)

When set, many models allow you to adjust the temperature (often via the +/ – buttons) while still in hold mode. (alarm network)

A Reddit user said well:

“Pressing hold means that it does not automatically return to the schedule and will remain where it is set until you ask it to return to the schedule.” (Reddit)

Another shouted:

“The permanent hold will do just that: behave like a non-planned thermostat. The temporary hold will eventually come back according to plan.” (Reddit)

3. Holiday teams, long -term override

In addition to temporary and permanent teams, many modern Honeywell (especially smart) thermostats support a function of holiday or away mode. There is practically a hybrid between “hold” and “financial planning” for extended absence. (Homeworlddesign)

What does it do

You set the start and end date (or return date), as well as the desired temperature you want to maintain while gone.
This keeps your home in a safe, energy efficient state (not too cold in winter, not too hot in summer) during your absence.
When the holiday period is completed, the thermostat automatically returns to your regular schedule.
Some models are even integrated with apps, so you can monitor or make adjustments externally. (Homeworlddesign)

Why use it?

I want to share a personal example:

Last winter I took a week-long trip, but did not use the resort. I simply set a permanent team of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Upon return, my house felt like a freezer, the heater had to work overtime to get it hot back. After that I switched to holiday stitch mode on my next trip: I asked it to maintain 60 ° F until I returned. The system got easy work to maintain it, and then my normal plan resumed evenly when I arrived, no dramatic heat increases.What Does “Hold” Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat

The holiday team is especially useful in a climate where extreme cold or heat can damage pipes or accessories if you turn the thermostat down. It’s a balance: You don’t want to run all the way, but you don’t want zero protection either.

4. When (and why) to use “hold”, use of reality

“Hold” is not just a fancy feature, when you use it smartly, it can make life more comfortable and save energy. Here are the times when “holding on” makes sense (with examples that can reflect your own life).

A. Sudden weather change

Let’s say that your daily plan sets the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, but then in the afternoon the sun hits your living room hard and it gets warm. You will get it down to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and hold it until the afternoon. Temporary hold is best.What Does “Hold” Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat

B. Unexpected guest or party

You are hosting friends for an evening. Typically, the temperature of your schedule drops at 8pm, but guests arrive early. You can press hold 75 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your space comfortable overnight, then return to your normal plan the next morning.

C. Works from home or changes routine

Maybe one day your regular hours will change, you will be home all morning instead of walking. Press hold so that the thermostat temperature does not drop as your “away time” approaches.

D. Weekend or Holiday

In a short weekend, a permanent grip can make sense. For longer holidays, the holiday team is better for energy savings and safety.

E. Testing or plumbing work

If a technician repairs your device and wants to run an uniform temperature, allow you to skip reprogramming or plan intervention.

So yes, I used holding mode when I took a three-day trip, put it permanently to mild temperature (66 degrees Fahrenheit) and later switched to holiday teams when I bought a smart model. Difference? Smooth transitions and fewer surprises.

5. How to cancel hold/return to the schedule

Understanding how to get back from hold mode is just as important as knowing how to activate it. What is the one thing you can’t cancel?

Regular button name

You will see options like the following:
Drive plan
Use schedule
Cancel hold
Remove hold
Resume the plan

Pressing one of these will cancel the hold and allow the thermostat to resume according to the programmed plan. (alarm network)

Phase (normal)

Press the mark marked run or plan (or equivalent).
The “Hold” indication should disappear from the display.
The thermostat shall resume the temperature it is programmed for the current period of time.

If the hold is stubborn (some models hold tight), sometimes adjusting the temperature slightly (up or down) will trigger a return to the plan. (Honeywell Home)

Also note: If your thermostat is locked (PIN lock or user lock), you may need to unlock before canceling the hold. (Reply only)

6. Advanced details and disadvantages you should know

Because I like to be nerdy, let me share some of the more subtle or model -specific quirks.

Alternative “Wait for”.

Many thermostats allow you to specify how long the temporary hold lasts via the “Hold for [Time]” setting. (Honeywell Home) You can select “Wait for 17:00”, after which the system plan resumes.

Auto Change Mode Interaction

Some thermostats support automatic transition, which means that the system automatically switches between heating and cooling depending on ambient conditions. When the hold is activated, this auto mode may be disabled or behave differently depending on the model. (alarm network)

In other words: If you lock the temperature too tightly, the thermostat cannot adapt to sudden changes (like a sudden cold or heat increase).

Adjust kept the temperature

Even in holding mode, many thermostats allow you to change the kept temperature using the +/ – buttons. The hold remains active, but the new set temperature replaces the old one. (alarm network)

Locked or firm

In rare cases, holding mode acts as if it is stuck. User Report:

The thermostat is temporarily stuck and there does not appear to be any way to cancel. (Reply only)
The display is locked or an “Unlock” symbol appears, indicating that you may need to deactivate lock mode before making changes. (Reply only)
The permanent team was accidentally chosen, so the plan never restarts.

If you are stuck, try resetting or reprogramming, or contact the manual or model -specific support.

7. Energy and cost implications by using “Hold”

Using hold wisely can help save energy, but abusing it can increase bills.

Professional (when used smart)

When you are away or do not follow your regular routine, holding temporary or vacation prevents HVAC from chasing a plan that does not benefit anyon
This can avoid unnecessary heating or cooling during vacant periods.
Holiday teams help maintain a protective baseline (not too cold, not too hot) instead of completely turning off the system.

Disadvantages (when it’s too long)

If you let it hold on all the time, your thermostat becomes really non-planned, which means it can get hot or cold when it is not necessary.
If the temperature maintained is far from your normal temperature, your plumbing can work harder to maintain it.
You can miss savings from check -up temperatures (turn down the heat or turn on AC when no one is at home).

In short: Grip is a tool, not a habit. Use it when needed and return to the schedule when normal life resumes.

8. Troubleshooting common grip problems

Although the use of teams is generally simple, problems arise. Here are some common and what you can try.

Problem: Thermostat Stack/Don’t Come Out

What to try:

Press Run or Cancel hold to force schedule mode.
Adjust the temperature slightly (± 1 degree) to override the hold.
Check if the screen is locked (user lock or pin mode); Disable lock first. (Reply only)
If nothing works, reset or restart the device by referring to the model’s manual.

Problem: Temporary break does not expire

Sometimes users set a “hold to” time, but it never resumes the schedule. Possible causes:

The schedule for the time track is not defined.
The thermostat model is outdated or has firmware errors.
Hold may have been set to “permanent” by mistake.

Problem: Use hold but what is still running off the plan

In some cases, even with holding mode, HVAC can turn off due to safety restrictions (such as overheating). This is usually not a failure in the thermostat, but rather built -in safety measures.

Problem: inconsistent mode (auto, heat, cool)

If your thermostat is in auto transition mode, or set for mixed heating/cooling, the holding may interfere or behave differently. In extreme cases, the holding setting automatically disables the plan until the plan resumes.

If you notice strange behavior (the HVAC coupling mode unexpectedly), check the mode settings and see if holding overpowering something unexpectedly.

9. My personal journey: How I (finally) took control of my thermostat

Let me be clear: When I first installed my Honeywell device, I thought “Hold” was useless. I used to set a schedule, and then turn up the thermostat heat or AC at midnight because I forgot to explain to go out late at night. I would come home and tremble or sweat, groping “hold on” in frustration.

One weekend I went out on a trip and (quickly) set it to permanent 62 degrees Fahrenheit. My house was cold when I came back. The heater ran for hours to heat it again. I realized that “holding on” was a double -edged sword: powerful if used on purpose, but dangerous if it was forgotten.

That’s when I discovered the resort on my new Honeywell model. Now I do not lock the wrong temperature, the system will return according to plan on the return date. Even better, I monitor it via mobile app to ensure that things stay fair with the pipes, comfort and bills.

From then on, “Hold” is a temporary manual override, I use it when my day gets thrown, not by default. This gives me control without having to reprogram things every time. And yes, less than midnight “Why is it cold?” moment.

10. Summary and conclusion

Here’s your quick cheat sheet:

“Hold” means overwriting the schedule and locking the temperature until the hold is cleared or ends.
The temporary team is short -term (the plan resumes automatically).
Permanent hold sticks until you can cancel it manually.
Holiday team/away mode is ideal for extended absence, it maintains the baseline temperature and resumes the schedule when you return.
Use hold when the normal routine changes, but do not forget to cancel it, otherwise you will lose the energy plans when planning.
If Hold Sticks, try “Run” or “Cancel hold”, temperature change or locking function.
Always see the manual for your specific Honeywell model, interface names and options vary.

11. FAQ

Q: Should I always put my thermostat on hold instead of using a plan?

A: No, the schedules are designed to optimize comfort and energy savings. Use hold only when your routine comes on wild tracks.

Q: Why does my thermostat show “temporary hold” after changing the temperature?

A: Many Honeywell models treat any manual temperature change during a specific period as a temporary override (i.e. temporary hold). (Honeywell Home)

Q: My thermostat is stuck on hold and will not restart the schedule. What next?

A: Try pressing “Run” or “Cancel hold”, unlock the screen, adjust the temperature slightly or reset the thermostat.

Q: Saving “saves” energy?

A: If used smartly (for example, in absence), but leaving it permanently can waste energy compared to dynamic planning.

Q: Is the holiday team available on all Honeywell models?

A: No, this is more common in smart/programmable models (T5, T6, etc.). Older or basic models may only hold and run options.

Key takings

Use “hold” on purpose.
Let the thermostat handle the routine most of the time, but do not be afraid to step in when you need extra comfort.
After all, your home should suit you, not the other way around.

Additional resources

What Is a Temporary Hold , Honeywell Home Support:Short Description: The manufacturer’s official definition of Temporary Hold vs Permanent Hold , when it holds until the next schedule change, and how a permanent hold stays until manually cancelled.
What Does Hold Mean on a Honeywell Thermostat? , Alarm Grid FAQ:Short Description: A clear, user-friendly explanation of how “Hold” overrides the programmed schedule and the difference between temporary and permanent holds.