Whether it’s a tropical vacation or a lengthy trip for work, taking a trip means making preparations for your HVAC system. You don't need it as long as you’re not home, so you can adjust it as appropriate to minimize your energy use. At the same time, you don’t want to just leave it off for the entire duration of your trip.
For the most part, it’s ideal to leave your HVAC system on and just make adjustments depending on the time of year. That way you can lower energy costs without worrying about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll review why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the most energy-efficient thermostat settings for summer and winter.
Here’s Why You Don't Leave Your Thermostat Alone
While you may be tempted to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this could end up stirring up big problems by the time you come back. This is particularly true if the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
For example, switching the HVAC system down during the summer could produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel muggy and uncomfortable when you have returned, but it might have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And in the winter, leaving the furnace off might lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s an awful feeling to get home from a vacation only to find extensive water damage near a broken pipe.
Best Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can adjust the temperature even if you’re coming and going to work. Since you’re not home for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t help your monthly energy bill to keep an empty home heated or cooled as if you were there. In general, it’s recommended to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, think about increasing it to 76-77 while you’re gone.
But you could save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As stated by the Department of Energy, you may save nearly 10% on your HVAC spending by making an adjustment of 7-10 degrees.
Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer
If you're on a longer trip in the middle of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This helps you avoid using too much energy while still defending your home from the problems that come with leaving it without air conditioning. About 5 degrees is appropriate for short trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is ideal if you’ll be gone for 2 weeks or more. If you like keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 will offer the best results.
Best Thermostat Settings While On a Trip in Winter
To determine the best thermostat setting for a winter vacation, simply lower it by the same amount you would increase it in summer. 68 is a common winter thermostat setting, so lowering it to 63-58 will protect your plumbing while restricting how often your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Perks of Smart Thermostat Installation
One of the best ways to regulate your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is by investing in a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat uses intelligent software to track your preferred comfort habits. It learns these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for higher energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi integration, you can remotely access your heating and cooling using a mobile device or tablet.
Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save on your energy bill. To provide an example, specific models can track electricity prices to boost heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They are compatible with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to fine-tune how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the perfect tool to streamline how you control your comfort system. If you’re considering investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can lower your costs, effectively getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you are away from home, you can appreciate true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t cause any trouble while you’re away from home.