What Does It Mean When My Thermostat Is in Recovery Mode?

Programmable thermostats are incredibly convenient and offer an easy way to cut your heating and cooling costs. However, they can also be confusing if you don’t know what all the different settings and modes mean. We get asked about recovery mode a lot, so here’s a quick overview of what it is and how it works.

Recovery Mode Explained

Most people assume that recovery mode indicates a problem with their thermostat, but it’s usually nothing to worry about. Recovery mode simply means your thermostat has started adjusting the temperature in your home. The thermostat switches into this mode whenever it has been off or in energy-saving mode to slowly begin raising or lowering the temperature. This typically happens a few hours before the thermostat is programmed to reach a set temperature. Recovery mode is just telling you that the thermostat is on and working toward hitting the set temperature on schedule.

Let’s say you have the thermostat set so that the house will be 70 degrees when you get home from work. In this case, it will switch into recovery mode a few hours earlier than this to gradually lower or raise the temperature. Instead of simply running the furnace or air conditioner on full blast, recovery mode allows your system to adjust the temperature in a more energy-efficient way.

Other Causes of Recovery Mode

Recovery mode generally just shows you that the thermostat is working and adjusting the temperature of the home. However, if you haven’t programmed your thermostat or your heating and cooling shouldn’t be running, recovery mode may indicate that your settings have changed. Typically, this is a result of a power surge or glitch that caused your thermostat settings to reset. In very rare cases, it may also be a sign that there is an issue with your thermostat or HVAC system that caused it to unexpectedly shut off.

Down here in South Louisiana, your system works hard year-round, and a smart thermostat with recovery mode can save you real money on your Entergy bill. We’ve been helping Acadiana homeowners get the most out of their thermostats since 1956. If your thermostat is acting up or you’re not sure it’s programmed right, call F & R Air Conditioning at (337) 893-5646 and we’ll take a look.