Heat Pumps Cold Climate 2025 Best Settings for Comfort and Lower Bills

What “best settings” really mean in 2025 cold climates

“Best” doesn’t mean the warmest number on the screen. It means steady comfort, minimal auxiliary heat, and no heat-pump lockouts when temps plunge. Your heat pump is most efficient when it holds a target temperature and avoids large swings. Auxiliary (strip) heat is helpful, but it’s expensive; we want it only when truly necessary. So our strategy is threefold:

• Keep daytime steady around 68°F (20°C).

• Use gentle setbacks about 62–65°F (16.5–18°C) for sleep or empty-house hours.

• Manage auxiliary heat with a smart lockout and staged control.

If your home has hot and cold spots, consider remote sensors or zoning. And if you’re still sizing or shopping, our Sizing Guide helps you pick a system that won’t struggle at low temps.

Set your daytime target: 68°F and steady

For occupied hours, set your programmable thermostat to 68°F (20°C). This is the sweet spot we use on real installs because it balances comfort and efficiency without constantly calling for auxiliary heat. Think of your heat pump like a marathoner, not a sprinter: it prefers a steady pace.

• Why 68°F? It’s warm enough for comfort, yet low enough to keep the compressor efficient.

• Avoid big daytime jumps. If you wrench it up 4–6 degrees suddenly, many thermostats will trigger auxiliary heat to “help,” which costs more.

• Keep it in “Heat” mode. We’ll get to modes next, but bouncing between heat and cool on “Auto” can cause unnecessary cycling.

If you consistently feel chilly at 68°F, bump it just 1°F at a time and re-check. Small tweaks beat big swings every time.

Smart setbacks: 62–65°F when you sleep or step out

Setbacks are where savings live but they must be modest. For Arctic nights, set 62–65°F (16.5 -- 18°C) during sleep or unoccupied hours. This trims energy use without “waking up” auxiliary heat.

• Best range: 3–6°F below your daytime 68°F.

• How long? Use it overnight or during longer away periods.

• Avoid very low setbacks. Dropping to the high 50s may push your heat pump into a lockout or trigger long auxiliary runs to catch up.

If mornings feel chilly, don’t raise the setpoint all at once. Schedule a gradual ramp (more on that below) so your heat pump warms the house on its own instead of handing the job to auxiliary strips.

Two switches that matter: Heat mode and Fan Auto

Two small settings prevent a lot of headaches:

1. Thermostat Mode: Use Heat, not Auto. In Auto, a sunny window or cooking heat can trick the thermostat into cooling later in the day, then back to heating at night extra cycling you don’t need in a deep cold.

2. Fan Setting: Use Auto, not On. In “On,” the blower runs constantly, which can move cool air when the compressor isn’t heating and may raise energy use. “Auto” runs the fan only when heating is active.

If you like air movement, try circulation modes that pulse the fan briefly each hour. It keeps air mixed without the energy penalty of a constantly running blower.

Taming auxiliary heat: delay it until you truly need it

Auxiliary heat is like the spare tire, great in a pinch, expensive for daily driving. Set an outdoor-temperature lockout just above your heat pump’s balance point, often 35–40°F (1.5 -- 4.5°C), depending on model and home. That tells the thermostat to hold off on strip heat until the heat pump can’t keep up.

• Use staged or rate-based control. Many smart stats engage auxiliary only when temperature rise is too slow (for example, <10°F of return-air rise) or when recovery is taking too long.

• Fine-tune in real weather. On the first truly frigid week, watch how often aux comes on and nudge the lockout as needed.

If your thermostat allows separate heat-pump and aux stage differentials, widen them slightly so the compressor has time to do its job before aux joins in.

Program Arctic nights: warm-ups without the spike

The trick is pre-heating gradually before you wake or return home so the heat pump, not the strips does the heavy lifting. A sample winter schedule:

• 5:00 a.m.: Raise from 63°F → 66°F

• 6:00 a.m.: 66°F → 68°F (home & active)

• 9:00 p.m.: 68°F → 65°F (wind-down)

• 10:30 p.m.: 65°F → 63°F (sleep)

Why it works: small steps keep the compressor within its comfort zone and avoid “emergency help.”

• If your stat offers “adaptive recovery,” enable it—it learns how early to start.

• On extreme cold alerts, start pre-heat earlier by 30–60 minutes.

• If your space heats unevenly, consider a ductless mini-split for trouble rooms (wall-mounted options).

Thermostat placement: the wall you pick changes everything

A perfectly programmed thermostat can still misread your home if it’s in the wrong spot. Mount it on an interior wall, about 5 ft (1.5 m) above the floor, away from:

• Drafts (exterior doors, leaky windows)

• Sunlight (big winter sunbeams fool sensors)

• Heat sources (kitchens, electronics, supply registers)

Bad placement makes the thermostat “think” the house is warmer or cooler than it really is, causing short cycling or over-heating. If you can’t move the stat, remote room sensors can average temps for a fair reading.

If a register blows directly at the thermostat, redirect the vane or close that register slightly so the stat doesn’t get a false warm blast.

Smart thermostats done right: learning that actually helps

Smart thermostats can learn your routine, pre-heat efficiently, and stage auxiliary heat based on real-time performance. Look for:

• Rate-of-change control (delays aux when the heat pump is keeping up)

• Adaptive recovery (starts warm-up early, in small steps)

• Outdoor sensor support (for precise aux lockouts)

• Remote sensors (temperature averaging)

Used correctly, these features reduce auxiliary run time and prevent lockouts on Arctic nights. Need accessories or add-ons? 

Browse our Accessories and Help Center for setup guidance.

Installer’s notebook: what we tweak in real homes

In field visits, we often find setbacks that are too deep, Auto mode toggling, and aux called in too early. We correct those first. Next, we confirm the heat pump isn’t undersized or short on airflow. If a system is borderline for your design temps, pairing with high-efficiency R-32 equipment or adding a ductless head for a cold room can help:

• Explore R-32 heat pump systems for better low-temp performance: R-32 Systems

• Check ductside components like air handlers and line sets for proper match.

• If you’re planning a swap, our Design Center can help align equipment with your home and climate.

When dialing in aux lockouts, log outdoor temps vs. indoor comfort for a week. You’ll quickly see the right balance point for your home.

Avoid these common mistakes 

1. Huge setbacks (8–10°F). Fix: keep it 3–6°F.

2. Using Auto mode. Fix: set Heat only in winter.

3. Fan set to On. Fix: use Auto to avoid blowing cool air.

4. No aux lockout. Fix: set lockout just above balance point (≈ 35–40°F).

5. Instant 5–6°F morning jumps. Fix: gradual ramps or adaptive recovery.

6. Thermostat in a draft/sunbeam. Fix: relocate or add remote sensors.

7. Undersized or unmatched gear. Fix: review our Sizing Guide and matched R-32 systems.

If one room lags behind, a ductless mini-split can solve the cold-spot without overdriving the main system see our DIY ductless options.

Sample 2025 schedule for Arctic nights (copy & tweak)

Comfort at wake time, savings at sleep time, no aux spikes.

• 5:00 a.m. → 63°F → 66°F

• 6:00 a.m. → 66°F → 68°F (daytime setpoint)

• 9:00 p.m. → 68°F → 65°F

• 10:30 p.m. → 65°F → 63°F

Settings to pair with schedule:

• Mode: Heat

• Fan: Auto

• Aux lockout: ~35–40°F, then fine-tune after the first cold snap

• Staging: Enable rate-based or time-based aux delays

Need more examples? Our HVAC Tips blog covers seasonal checklists and programming how-tos.

When to call in help (and what we’ll check)

If you’ve tried these settings and still see frequent auxiliary heat or rooms that won’t warm, it’s time to inspect airflow and sizing. A tech will:

• Verify filter, coil, and blower are clean and moving enough air

• Check refrigerant charge and outdoor unit performance

• Confirm thermostat wiring & staging are correct

• Revisit balance point and aux lockout in real weather

Want fast guidance? Send photos for a free equipment check via Quote by Photo, or reach us through Contact Us.

Your quick checklist (pin this)

• Daytime: 68°F (20°C)

• Sleep/Away: 62–65°F (16.5–18°C)

• Mode: Heat | Fan: Auto

• Aux Lockout: ~35–40°F, then fine-tune

• Ramps: small steps before wake/return

• Placement: interior wall, ~5 ft, no drafts/sun

• Smart features on: adaptive recovery, rate-based staging, outdoor sensor

• Gear fit: confirm with the Sizing Guide

Where to go from here

If you want help tailoring this to your specific heat pump model or smart thermostat brand, tell me what you’re using and I’ll map the exact menus and names. For product questions or parts, explore our Accessories and work with our Design Center to plan upgrades that thrive in true winter. No fluff, just settings and gear that work when the night turns Arctic.