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68\u00B0F. Do not setback more than 2\u00B0F. That one rule can save you $300-$600 per winter in New Hampshire. Here is why, plus the best smart thermostats for NH heat pump systems.
68\u00B0F
Optimal Winter
\u22642\u00B0F
Max Setback
$100
NHSaves Rebate
Do NOT setback your thermostat more than 2\u00B0F in winter. Unlike gas furnaces where deep setbacks save money, heat pump setbacks COST money. When you drop to 60\u00B0F at night and crank back to 72\u00B0F in the morning, the heat pump cannot recover fast enough and triggers auxiliary electric resistance heat at COP 1.0 -- three times the cost of normal heat pump operation. This one mistake costs NH homeowners $300-$600 every winter.
With a gas furnace, dropping to 60\u00B0F overnight saves 10-15% because the furnace can fire at 100,000+ BTU/hr and recover quickly. The recovery cost is modest.
A heat pump produces heat slowly and efficiently at COP 2.5-3.0. When forced to recover 8\u00B0F quickly on a cold NH morning, it cannot keep up. The thermostat activates auxiliary electric resistance heat (COP 1.0) to bridge the gap. You pay 3x the per-BTU cost during recovery.
Normal operation (COP 3.0): $0.25 \u00F7 3.0 = $0.083 per kWh of heat delivered
Aux heat recovery (COP 1.0): $0.25 \u00F7 1.0 = $0.250 per kWh of heat delivered
Recovery cost multiplier: 3.0x normal cost per BTU
Typical morning recovery: 2-4 hours of aux heat = $3-$8 extra per day
Winter total (Nov-Mar): 150 days \u00D7 $3-$8 = $300-$600 wasted
Temperature
68°F constant
Setback
None
Cheapest approach. Heat pump runs at peak efficiency.
Temperature
68°F → 66°F away
Setback
2°F
Small setback is OK. Recovery stays within heat pump capacity.
Temperature
68°F → 66°F
Setback
2°F max
Resist the urge to drop lower. 66°F is comfortable for sleeping.
Temperature
60°F minimum
Setback
8°F
OK for multi-day absence. Slow recovery is fine when nobody is waiting.
December - February
Set To
68°F
Max Setback
2°F maximum (to 66°F)
Set to 68°F and LEAVE IT. Do not program large setbacks.
If you must setback at night, go no lower than 66°F.
NEVER use "Emergency Heat" except during actual mechanical failure.
Let the heat pump manage defrost cycles automatically.
Keep airflow clear around indoor and outdoor units (3 ft snow clearance).
Common Mistake
Setting back to 60°F at night, then cranking to 72°F in morning. This triggers aux/electric resistance heat to recover, costing 3x more.
October - November
Set To
68°F
Max Setback
3°F acceptable (to 65°F)
Moderate temperatures mean high COP (3.0+). Heat pump at peak efficiency.
Slightly larger setbacks are OK because recovery does not trigger aux heat.
Great time to verify your smart thermostat heat pump settings.
Ensure "compressor min outdoor temp" is set correctly for your unit.
Common Mistake
Not switching from AC to heat mode promptly. Leaving in AC mode when nights drop to 40°F wastes money.
March - April, September
Set To
66-68°F
Max Setback
3-4°F acceptable
Auto mode works well in shoulder months (heating mornings, cooling afternoons).
Wider deadband (2-3°F) prevents rapid switching between heat and cool.
Programmable setbacks to 64°F overnight are fine — recovery is easy.
Check your air filter — spring pollen and fall leaves clog filters fast.
Common Mistake
Running heat and AC on the same day without a wide enough deadband. Set heating to 66°F and cooling to 72°F minimum.
June - August
Set To
74-76°F
Max Setback
Up to 82°F when away
Heat pumps are extremely efficient at cooling (SEER2 18-24).
Set to 76°F when home. NH rarely needs aggressive cooling.
Raise to 82°F when away — recovery is fast and cheap.
Use dehumidify mode on humid NH summer days instead of lowering temp.
Fan speed on auto for best dehumidification.
Common Mistake
Setting to 68°F for cooling. Every degree below 72°F increases cooling costs ~3%.
Mistake #1
Setting back 8°F+ at night
Why It Costs Money
Morning recovery triggers aux heat at COP 1.0 (3x more expensive)
Fix
Keep at 68°F or setback to 66°F max
Cost Impact
+$300-$600/winter
Mistake #2
Running on "Emergency Heat" mode
Why It Costs Money
Emergency Heat disables the compressor entirely. Pure electric resistance.
Fix
Only use if compressor has mechanically failed
Cost Impact
+$15-$25/day
Mistake #3
Using a non-heat-pump thermostat
Why It Costs Money
Standard thermostats do not understand aux heat lockout or compressor minimum temps
Fix
Use ecobee, Nest, or Honeywell T9 with heat pump mode
Cost Impact
+$200-$400/winter
Mistake #4
Covering outdoor unit with snow
Why It Costs Money
Blocked airflow drops COP dramatically and triggers defrost cycles
Fix
Maintain 3 ft clearance. Build a simple roof shelter (not walls)
Cost Impact
+$100-$200/winter
Mistake #5
Setting cooling to 68°F in summer
Why It Costs Money
Every degree below 72°F increases cooling costs ~3%
Fix
Set to 74-76°F. Use dehumidify mode on humid days.
Cost Impact
+$50-$100/summer
NHSaves offers up to $100 rebate on qualifying smart thermostats. Here are the four best options for heat pump systems in New Hampshire.
$249
NHSaves: Up to $100
Heat Pump Features
Dedicated heat pump mode with aux heat lockout
Compressor minimum outdoor temperature setting
Smart recovery avoids aux heat during setback recovery
Room sensors for multi-zone temperature averaging
Pros
Cons
Best For:
NH homeowners with heat pumps who want maximum control and aux heat prevention.
$279
NHSaves: Up to $100
Heat Pump Features
Heat pump balance mode (comfort vs. efficiency)
Compressor lockout temperature setting
Learning algorithm adapts to NH seasonal patterns
Emergency heat disable option
Pros
Cons
Best For:
NH homeowners who want a simple, learning thermostat that works well with heat pumps.
$179
NHSaves: Up to $50
Heat Pump Features
Conventional heat pump mode support
Aux heat enable/disable
Multi-zone room sensors (sold separately)
Geofencing for away mode
Pros
Cons
Best For:
Budget-conscious NH homeowners who want basic smart thermostat features with heat pump compatibility.
$149
NHSaves: Check eligibility
Heat Pump Features
Designed specifically for ductless mini-splits
IR blaster controls mini-split directly
Works with Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, LG, Daikin
Schedule and zone temperature control via app
Pros
Cons
Best For:
NH homeowners with ductless mini-splits (Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, LG) who want smart scheduling.
The thermostat activates this automatically when the heat pump cannot meet demand -- during setback recovery or extreme cold.
COP: 1.0 (electric resistance)
Cost: 3x normal heat pump operation
When OK: Brief periods during recovery or extreme cold
Your action: Minimize by avoiding large setbacks
This is a manual override that shuts off the heat pump compressor entirely. ONLY electric resistance runs.
COP: 1.0 (electric resistance only)
Cost: $15-$25/day in NH
When OK: ONLY if the compressor has mechanically failed
NEVER use as a regular heating mode
Set your heat pump to 68°F and leave it there during NH winters (December-February). The most important rule: do NOT setback more than 2°F. A large setback (e.g., dropping to 60°F at night) forces the heat pump to use expensive auxiliary/electric resistance heat to recover in the morning, which can cost 3 times more per hour. If you must setback, go to 66°F maximum.
Heat pumps heat slowly and efficiently. When you setback 6-8 degrees, the recovery period requires the system to run at maximum capacity. In NH winter, if the heat pump cannot recover fast enough, the auxiliary electric resistance heat kicks in. Aux heat runs at COP 1.0 (100% efficient but no heat multiplication), compared to the heat pump at COP 2.5-3.0. A single morning recovery using aux heat can cost $3-$8 extra. Over a winter, that adds $300-$600 to your bill.
Auxiliary (Aux) heat is electric resistance backup that the thermostat activates automatically when the heat pump cannot keep up — typically during recovery from setback or in extreme cold. Emergency heat is a manual override that SHUTS OFF the heat pump entirely and runs ONLY on electric resistance. Emergency heat should only be used if the heat pump compressor has mechanically failed. In NH, accidentally running on Emergency Heat at $0.25/kWh can cost $15-$25 per day.
Yes. NHSaves offers rebates of up to $100 for qualifying smart thermostats purchased through their program or approved retailers. The rebate applies to ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats from brands like ecobee, Google Nest, and Honeywell. Check nhsaves.com for current rebate amounts and participating retailers. The rebate may be applied as an instant discount at participating stores or submitted as a mail-in rebate.
For ducted heat pump systems, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the best choice. It has dedicated heat pump intelligence that prevents unnecessary aux heat activation, included room sensors, and a compressor minimum outdoor temperature setting. For ductless mini-splits (Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, LG), the Mysa Smart Thermostat for Heat Pumps is the only option that provides smart scheduling via an IR blaster.
Auto mode (switching between heating and cooling) works well during shoulder months (March-April, September-October) when NH temperatures can swing 30+ degrees in a day. Set heating to 66°F and cooling to 72°F with a minimum 4°F deadband to prevent rapid switching. In deep winter, lock the system in Heat mode — there is no need for cooling capability.
Five strategies: (1) Set to 68°F and avoid setbacks greater than 2°F. (2) Use a smart thermostat with heat pump intelligence (ecobee or Nest). (3) Set the "compressor minimum outdoor temperature" correctly for your model (-13°F for Mitsubishi, -15°F for Fujitsu). (4) Never use Emergency Heat unless the compressor has failed. (5) Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice (maintain 3 ft clearance on all sides).
Yes, if the setback is too large. For a heat pump, a setback of more than 2°F in NH winter can trigger expensive auxiliary heat during recovery. This is the opposite of gas furnaces, where deep setbacks save money. With a gas furnace, dropping to 60°F at night saves 10-15%. With a heat pump in NH, the same setback can INCREASE costs by 10-20% due to aux heat. This is the single most common mistake NH heat pump owners make.
Proper thermostat settings are essential, but the right heat pump makes them even more effective. Get a free quote from NHSaves-approved contractors.