Should You Set Back Your Heat Pump Temperature at Night?
Published: July 21, 2026 — BC Wide Home Services Ltd, doing business as BC Wide Heating & Air Conditioning — Greater Vancouver, BC
Setback Recommendations
Unlike gas furnaces that benefit from deep setbacks, heat pumps should use moderate setbacks of 2-3°C (from 21°C to 18°C). Larger setbacks trigger the auxiliary electric heat during recovery, which is much more expensive than the heat pump. A 2°C setback still saves 5-10% on heating costs.
Smart Thermostat Programming
Use adaptive recovery mode (available on Ecobee and Nest). This starts warming the home before your scheduled wake time, using only the heat pump — no auxiliary heat. Set the recovery time to start 30-60 minutes before you need the temperature. Avoid scheduling deep setbacks just before cold outdoor conditions.
Alternative Approach
For maximum savings with heat pumps, consider maintaining a consistent temperature during cold weather (below 0°C) and using 2-3°C setbacks only during mild weather (above 5°C). This prevents auxiliary heat from activating during recovery on cold days when it is most likely to engage.