The Frozen Peas Thermostat Hack (and Why Alfred Would Have Saved Everyone the Trouble)

Every host has a story.
Some are funny.
Some are horrifying.
And some sit somewhere in the middle — the kind where you laugh first, then realise the underlying problem is absolutely real.

This is one of those.

The Great Frozen Peas Thermostat Incident

A host shared that he’d finally had enough of guests cranking the thermostat to “Tropical Rainforest” mode every time they visited.
So he did what many frustrated hosts eventually do:

He locked the thermostat.

Problem solved, right?

Not quite.

Because guests are endlessly resourceful.
And nothing motivates human creativity quite like the pursuit of free heat in someone else’s house.

So what did they do?

They placed a bag of frozen peas on top of the thermostat.

Why?
Because the thermostat was locked and couldn’t be changed —
but it could still sense temperature.

And when it sensed that things were “icy cold,”
it did exactly what a thermostat is programmed to do:

It turned the heating on.
Full blast.

All night.
All morning.
Until the peas thawed, dripped everywhere, and the guest finally left — warm, smug, and unaware of the chaos they’d engineered for the host’s next gas bill.

It’s funny… until the bill arrives

Let’s be honest — this is objectively hilarious.

It’s the kind of story you tell over coffee.
Or at a dinner party.
Or in a support group for traumatised Airbnb hosts.

But underneath the comedy sits three brutal truths:

1. Guests want comfort and don’t care how they get it.

2. Locked thermostats annoy guests more than they save money.

3. Trying to outsmart guests is a losing battle.

If a bag of peas can win against your heating strategy,
it’s not a strategy — it’s wishful thinking.

This is exactly why Alfred exists

Alfred doesn’t lock thermostats.
He doesn’t hide them.
And he definitely doesn’t create situations where frozen vegetables become part of the heating plan.

He simply:

• Heats when the property is occupied.

• Powers down when the guests check out.

• Pre-heats before arrival.

• Maintains a safe setback temperature when empty.

And he does all of it based entirely on your booking calendar — not on guest tampering, thermostat access, or the presence of frozen food.

There’s nothing for the guest to fight against.
No incentive to hack the system.
No peas required.

Comfort for them.
Control for you.
Savings for your wallet.

Everybody wins.

Peas shouldn’t manage your heating

It’s a simple rule of hosting life:

If frozen vegetables have more control over your heating than you do, something has gone wrong.

Alfred fixes that quietly, automatically, and without ever frustrating your guests or costing you an extra penny in sneaky thermostat battles.

Your property stays warm when it should be.
Cool when it should be.
And your energy bill reflects actual occupancy — not petty wars or vegetable sabotage.

Want Alfred to end the thermostat games once and for all?

If you want:

• No locked controls

• No thermostat battles

• No unexpected gas bills

• No frozen peas melting behind radiators

…then Alfred is the upgrade your rental needs.

#endthepeas