Whether it’s a much-needed vacation or a lengthy trip for work, leaving home means making preparations for your HVAC system. You don't need it while you’re on a trip, so you can make adjustments as needed to minimize your energy use. Simultaneously, you shouldn't just shut it down for the entire time you're gone.
Instead, it’s best to leave your HVAC system going and just make adjustments depending on the season. That way you can minimize energy costs without worrying about getting back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll walk you through why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for different times of year.
This Is Why You Don't Leave Your Thermostat Alone
While you could be tempted to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this could end up stirring up costly problems by the time you return. This is particularly true when the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re away from home.
For instance, switching the HVAC system down during the summer can produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you have returned, but it may have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And in the winter, not using the furnace can lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a vacation only to find substantial water damage nearby a broken pipe.
Best Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can adjust the temperature even when you're just going to work. Considering you’re out of the house for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t make sense to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. As a general rule, it’s encouraged to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. That means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try adjusting it to 76-77 while you’re gone.
But you could save even more if you try further adjustments to the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you might save about 10% on your HVAC expenses by making an adjustment of 7-10 degrees.
Best Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Summer
If you're on a longer trip in the heart of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still defending your home from the issues that come with leaving it uncooled. About 5 degrees is recommended for brief trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is worthwhile if you’ll be gone for 2 weeks or longer. If you enjoy keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 will offer beneficial results.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Winter
To figure out the best thermostat setting for a winter vacation, consider lowering the temperature by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a frequent winter thermostat setting, so adjusting to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while restricting how long your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Advantages of a Smart Thermostat
An ideal strategy to regulate your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is by investing in a smart thermostat. This special type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to monitor your usual comfort habits. It gradually understands these preferences and makes automatic adjustments to the schedule for better energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi compatibility, you can remotely access your HVAC system from a smartphone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are loaded with features to help you save on your energy bill. To provide an example, certain models can track electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are lower. They can also work with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to refine how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the ideal tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, there are different ways you can reduce your costs, essentially getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you leave for vacation, you can receive true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t stir up any trouble while you’re away.