I’ve been experimenting with optimizing my away mode settings to better suit my needs, especially during the shoulder seasons. For those of you who also rely heavily on away mode, I’d love to share my findings and hear your tips!
My Setup:
- I use a heat pump for both heating and cooling.
- Away mode is my default setting when I’m not at home, which is most of the day during weekdays.
The Challenge:
In the spring and fall, I only need heating at night to keep the temperature above 12°C (53°F). However, away mode doesn’t allow for time-based scheduling, so the system ends up running unnecessarily during the day, driving up energy costs.
My Solution:
I’ve been manually adjusting the temperature each evening to ensure the system kicks in when needed. While not perfect, it’s a workaround until I can find a more automated solution. I’ve also been exploring the possibility of using a smart thermostat’s built-in sensor to maintain a lower temperature than the minimum setting. This could save energy without sacrificing comfort.
Questions for the Community:
- Has anyone successfully programmed time slots within away mode? If so, how did you do it?
- Are there any third-party apps or integrations that allow for more granular control over away mode settings?
- For those using heat pumps, how do you balance energy efficiency with comfort during the shoulder seasons?
I’d love to hear your strategies and tips! Let’s share ideas to make away mode work smarter for all of us. 