Your thermostat is the brain of your HVAC system — it senses room temperature and tells the furnace or AC when to run. A programmable thermostat follows a schedule; a smart thermostat adds Wi-Fi, learning, remote control from your phone, and energy reports. In a cold climate, modest overnight setbacks save energy, but extreme setbacks can backfire when the furnace has to claw back 10°C on a frigid morning.
Quick answer
- A thermostat senses temperature and cycles your furnace or AC to hold your setting.
- Programmable = schedules; smart = Wi-Fi, app control, learning, and energy reports.
- Modest setbacks (a few degrees overnight or when away) genuinely save energy.
- Extreme setbacks in deep cold can backfire — and can risk pipes if the home gets too cold.
- Some smart thermostats may qualify for SaskEnergy rebates.
What the thermostat actually does
When the room drops below your setting, the thermostat closes a circuit that tells the furnace to start its heating cycle; when the room reaches the target, it shuts it off. A programmable thermostat automates this on a schedule — cooler while you sleep or work, warmer when you're home. A smart thermostat goes further: it connects to Wi-Fi so you can adjust it from your phone, learns your routine, shows energy use, and can respond to outdoor temperature. Pairing one with a two-stage or modulating furnace unlocks the steadiest comfort.
The truth about setbacks in a Saskatchewan winter
You'll hear that turning the heat way down saves money. It's partly true — a setback of a few degrees overnight or while you're out does cut energy use. But in our climate there are two cautions: a deep setback means the furnace has to recover a big temperature gap on a brutally cold morning, which eats into the savings, and letting the house get too cold while you're away in winter risks frozen pipes. The smart move is a moderate, scheduled setback — not an extreme one. A smart thermostat with an outdoor-temperature feed manages this automatically.
Common mistakes to avoid
Cranking the thermostat to heat faster
Setting it to 30°C doesn't heat the home any faster — the furnace runs at the same output either way. It just overshoots and wastes gas. Set it to the temperature you actually want.
A thermostat that's incompatible with your system
Not every smart thermostat works with every furnace — particularly two-stage, modulating, or dual-fuel setups, which need the right wiring and configuration. The wrong pairing loses features or causes faults; we match the control to the equipment.
How TemperaturePro Saskatoon helps
- TemperaturePro Saskatoon installs and configures programmable and smart thermostats and matches them to your furnace, two-stage, or dual-fuel system.
- We set sensible cold-climate schedules so setbacks save energy without risking comfort or pipes.
- As a SaskEnergy Network Member, we confirm whether a qualifying smart thermostat earns a current rebate.
Frequently asked questions
Do smart thermostats really save money in Saskatoon?
They can, mostly by automating sensible setbacks and showing you your usage. The savings depend on your habits and how the schedule is set — extreme setbacks in deep cold save less than people expect. We set it up for our climate.
How low should I set my thermostat at night in winter?
A few degrees below your daytime setting is a good balance — enough to save energy, not so much that the furnace struggles to recover or the home gets cold enough to risk pipes during a cold snap. Avoid extreme overnight setbacks in deep cold.
Written by Dustin Steeves, Operations Manager
Dustin Steeves leads operations at TemperaturePro Saskatoon and is the voice behind the company's homeowner education content — turning 15+ years of HVAC experience into plain-English answers for Saskatoon homeowners.
Technically reviewed by Aaron Decae, Senior HVAC Technician, Red Seal Certified · Last updated: June 24, 2026
Each guide is grounded in TemperaturePro Saskatoon's day-to-day service work across Saskatoon, Martensville, Warman, and the surrounding communities, and is updated as equipment, efficiency standards, SaskEnergy rebate programs, and local code considerations change.