Smart thermostats with a heat pump
A heat pump wants a steady hand on the thermostat.
The habit that saves money with a gas furnace, turning it way down at night, doesn't save the same way with a heat pump. Here's how to set a smart thermostat for one, from ENERGY STAR and the Energy Code.
Before you buy
Make sure the thermostat is compatible with your heating and cooling system. For the very highest efficiency equipment, ENERGY STAR suggests a controller from the same company.
Smart thermostats that earn the ENERGY STAR label do it on actual field data showing energy savings. In homes with high heating and cooling bills, or that sit empty much of the day, ENERGY STAR puts the saving at approximately $100 a year.
Source: ENERGY STAR, Smart Thermostats. Rules and programs change: last checked 2026-10-22.
Source: ENERGY STAR, Heating and Cooling. Rules and programs change: last checked 2026-10-22.
Settings for a heat pump
Unlike a furnace or boiler, a heat pump doesn't save energy by being turned down when you're away or asleep.
Set it to Heat or Cool rather than Auto, so it doesn't switch modes on an unseasonably warm or cold day.
Source: ENERGY STAR, Air Source Heat Pumps. Rules and programs change: last checked 2026-10-22.
What the Energy Code asks of the thermostat
A setback thermostat under California's Energy Code lets you program at least four periods within a 24-hour time span.
For a heat pump with electric or gas backup heat, the thermostat has to show the outdoor temperature, from a sensor or an internet weather service, and tell you when the backup heater is on.
Source: California Energy Commission, 2025 Single-Family Residential Compliance Manual (June 2025). Rules and programs change: last checked 2026-10-22.
Your setup
What to change, by system
-
Is it a heat pump?
If yes
Skip the deep setbacks
Keep the temperature steady, and pick Heat or Cool instead of Auto.
If no
On a furnace, setbacks still pay
Turning it down while you're out or asleep is where a schedule earns its keep.
-
Does it have backup heat?
If yes
Watch for the backup heat notice
The thermostat should tell you when it's on.
Heat pumps in a cold snapIf no
One less thing to watch
The heat pump does all the heating.
-
Is it top-efficiency, variable speed equipment?
If yes
Ask about the maker's controller
The highest efficiency systems may want one from the same company.
If no
Then compatibility is the check
Confirm the thermostat works with your system before you buy it.
Tell us what it's doing. We'll take it from there.
Call and describe the problem: the noise, the smell, the room that never warms up. Or book a visit online.
