Can I Override My Honeywell Thermostat's Recovery Mode?
Countless homeowners choose Honeywell thermostats because of their convenience, and accuracy. Because you can program a Honeywell thermostat yourself, you can effectively custom tailor your preferences within your home. However, it is within the programming of Honeywell thermostats that many homeowners find themselves confused.
When your Honeywell thermostat gets stuck in recovery mode, you can override it. To override recovery mode on your thermostat, go to ‘Settings,’ and choose ‘Preferences.’ Under ‘Preferences,’ choose ‘Smart Response Technology’ and turn ‘Recovery Mode’ to OFF. You should also make sure that your thermostat isn’t in ‘Energy-Saving Mode.’
While recovery mode is a good thing as far as energy goes, not all homeowners like it. If that is the case, go into the settings, and simply disable the recovery mode function of the thermostat.
Let’s get into how you can override your Honeywell thermostat recovery.
What Is Recovery Mode On Honeywell Thermostat?
Recovery mode is a time when the thermostat is bouncing back from having been inactive for the day. Many homeowners choose to set their thermostats for energy-saving settings in today’s world. You can set a Honeywell thermostat to stay off while you are gone for the day, and back on when you return.
The period between your thermostat leaving energy-saving mode and reaching the desired temperature is called recovery mode. There are several benefits to having a function such as recovery mode enabled, such as:
- Conserves energy
- Automated so that you don’t have to adjust temperature
- Can indicate AC problems if it turns on unexpectedly
It is a convenience that you can return to your home after work with the temperature exactly as you want it. Recovery mode is all a part of that, but it can be viewed as an inconvenience to some. Especially, if the thermostat enters recovery mode without any apparent reason.
The main appeal of recovery mode is the convenience it provides. You can have your Honeywell thermostat set that it stays off all day while you are gone. If you know your hours, program the Honeywell thermostat so that it enters recovery mode an hour before you get home.
In that hour, the thermostat will slowly prepare the HVAC system and eventually cool the house in time for you to arrive.
Why Is My Honeywell Thermostat In Recovery Mode?
There are several reasons that your Honeywell thermostat is in recovery mode, including:
- You programmed it to enable recovery mode in settings
- Thermostat automatically reverted its settings as a glitch
- Air conditioner could be malfunctioning and not circulating properly
- Furnace may be failing to bring the house up to intended temperature
Most commonly, homeowners accidentally program their Honeywell thermostat to enable recovery mode. The recovery mode option is easy to overlook, especially when initially programming the thermostat. Other times, even if you disabled recovery mode, a glitch could cause the settings you programmed to reset.
However, “smart” Honeywell thermostats can even enter recovery mode if the AC or furnace is malfunctioning. If the recovery override is not reflected in the settings, that means it is likely due to weak AC or furnace.
How To Override Honeywell Thermostat Recovery Mode
It is quite easy to override your Honeywell thermostat’s recovery mode. That is, if it is a matter of the thermostat itself. However, it should be noted that if you override recovery mode by changing the settings and the problem persists, have someone inspect your HVAC system.
When you override a Honeywell thermostat’s recovery mode function, you shorten the time window for the temperature to change. Overriding recovery mode takes no time at all.
1. Check Out Thermostat’s Settings
Carefully look over your thermostat’s settings. There is a section that has all of your preferences laid out, such as temperature, energy saver, mode, etc. Under that section, there is an option for recovery mode.
Chances are that recovery mode is enabled, and you simply didn’t realize it. That is totally normal and quite common, as it is easy to slip through the cracks. All that you need to do is click the option to disable recovery mode.
2. See the Results
Did it work? Give it up to a day, if need be, and inspect what happens when your recovery mode would have turned on. More than likely, you won’t have to worry about your Honeywell thermostat going into recovery mode again.
However, if that time of the day rolls around and your Honeywell thermostat enters recovery mode, something else is wrong. At this point, you have done all that you can, as far as the thermostat goes.
3. Call a Professional Or Inspect HVAC System
Either call an HVAC system professional or inspect it yourself. Any time that you inspect an HVAC system, you should be careful, and shut off power if necessary. If you inspect the HVAC system yourself, look out for any faults in the installation.
It could be something as simple as your AC vent being backed up with dust preventing it from blowing properly. Since Honeywell thermostats are smart, they can sometimes enter recovery mode if they pick up on discrepancies in the HVAC system. When that happens, the Honeywell thermostat can possibly enter recovery mode
Do All Thermostats Have Recovery Mode?
Not all thermostats have recovery mode, but it is quite common for modern selections. In fact, recovery mode is now a staple of smart thermostats. Honeywell happens to be among the most popular and efficient smart thermostats that have recovery mode.
Unless recovery mode is bothering you significantly, it is worth a go at leaving the function on. Not only does it save you energy, but it can also tell you if something is wrong with the HVAC system.
What are the Advantages of Recovery Mode?
You might be wondering what the purpose of recovery mode is and why it’s even an option. Let’s look at some of the advantages that Recovery Mode offers.
Energy Conservation
When there are big gaps between the ambient temperature and what you want the temperature to be, your furnace or air conditioner will cause a big spike in energy use. Recovery mode allows the temperature to adjust gradually, which saves you big bucks on your energy bill. The temperature change will take longer, but it’s worth it if you want to save money.
Ease and Convenience
Recovery mode essentially allows your thermostat to plan ahead on your behalf. Smart thermostats have the ability to know what you want the temperature in your home to be before you change the thermostat setting. Recovery Mode is what the thermostat switches to in order to pre-heat or cool your home ahead of time.
Saves Your Furnace and AC
In the same way that gradually increasing or decreasing the temperature saves energy, it also saves your heating and cooling appliances. Having a furnace or AC go from zero to 60 without any warning is hard on them and puts unnecessary wear and tear on them. Recovery Mode allows them to gradually increase or decrease the temperature which puts less strain on them.
Why Is Recovery Mode On Some Days And Not Others?
Sometimes, recovery mode will kick on one day and not another, because that is how it is scheduled. Part of the preferences of thermostats, such as Honeywell, involves the dates for different functions and settings. Go into the settings and see if you set your thermostat for recovery mode to be on for specific days.
If so, either disable those settings or tweak them so that the recovery mode will kick on for the days of your choice. This function comes in handy, especially if you are planning on taking trips, or know that you won’t get home until night on a particular day.
What is Adaptive Recovery Mode on a Honeywell Thermostat?
Adaptive Recovery Mode is similar to recovery mode in that it’s a feature designed to adjust your thermostat automatically. Adaptive Recovery is also known as Smart Response and it’s a feature where your thermostat learns how long it takes your HVAC system to reach a certain temperature. Having this information allows your thermostat to start your HVAC system ahead of schedule if it knows it will take extra time to reach the desired temperature.
If you want to turn off Adaptive Recovery or Smart Response, start by going to the home screen of your thermostat. Click on the icon for the Honeywell thermostat you want to adjust. This only applies if you have multiple thermostats. Press on the Gear Wheel in the upper right-hand corner of the thermostat. Select ‘Advanced,’ and slide the ‘Adaptive Recovery’ knob to the OFF position.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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