Whether it’s a relaxing vacation or an extended trip for work, taking a trip means making plans for your HVAC system. You can't use it while you’re on a trip, so you can make adjustments as necessary to minimize your energy use. At the same time, you shouldn't just turn it off for the entire time you're out of the house.
For the most part, it’s ideal to leave your HVAC system running and just raise or lower depending on whether it's winter or summer. That way you can reduce energy costs without stressing about returning to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you shouldn’t turn your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for different times of year.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat on Hold
While you might be tempted to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this will sometimes end up stirring up costly problems by the time you return. This is especially true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
For instance, switching the HVAC system off during the summer will sometimes cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel gross when you have returned, but it may have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And during the winter, not using the furnace might lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s exhausting to get home from a vacation only to find substantial water damage near a broken pipe.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can optimize the temperature even when you're just going to work. Considering you’re out of the house for around 8 hours or so, it doesn’t make sense to keep an empty home the same temperature as when you're home. As a general rule, it’s recommended to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try raising it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you may save even more if you try further adjustments to the temperature. According to the Department of Energy, you may save nearly 10% on your HVAC expenses by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.
Best Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Summer
If you’re leaving for an extended trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still protecting your home from the problems that come with leaving it uncooled. About 5 degrees is recommended for shorter trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is best if you’ll be away from home for 2 weeks or more. If you prefer keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 will offer great results.
Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter
To figure out the best thermostat setting for a winter vacation, simply lower it by the same amount you would increase it in summer. 68 is a frequent winter thermostat setting, so lowering it to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while minimizing how often your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat
One of the best ways to manage your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is with a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to understand your typical comfort habits. It applies these preferences and makes automatic changes to the schedule for higher energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can remotely access your heating and cooling from a smartphone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are stuffed with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For example, certain models can monitor electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to fine-tune how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the optimal tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re considering investing in a smart thermostat, there are different ways you can lower your costs, effectively getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you are away from home, you can receive true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t cause any trouble while you’re away from home.