Whether it’s a relaxing vacation or a long trip for work, leaving home means making preparations for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it if you’re not home, so you can make adjustments as appropriate to limit your energy use. Just the same, you shouldn't just leave it off for the entire time you're gone.
For the most part, it’s best to leave your HVAC system on and just make adjustments depending on the season. That way you can reduce energy costs without stressing about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the best thermostat settings for various times of year.
Here’s Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat on Hold
While you could be inclined to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this can end up causing annoying problems by the time you come back. This is particularly true when the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re out of town.
For example, shutting the HVAC system off in the summer could cause 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, leaving the furnace off will sometimes lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a long trip only to find extensive water damage near a broken pipe.
Best Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can make temperature adjustments even if you’re coming and 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 the same temperature as when you're home. Generally, it’s recommended to raise the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try adjusting it to 76-77 while you’re gone.
But you can save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. According to the Department of Energy, you might save around 10% on your HVAC spending by making an adjustment of 7-10 degrees.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer
If you’re leaving for a lengthier trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still protecting your home from the issues that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. Around 5 degrees is appropriate for brief trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is worthwhile if you’ll be out of town for 2 weeks or longer. If you prefer keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 should offer the best results.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter
To figure out the ideal thermostat setting for a winter trip, just lower the temperature 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 long your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Advantages of a Smart Thermostat
One of the best ways to optimize your home’s HVAC system while away from home is by investing in a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat uses intelligent software to understand your usual comfort habits. It learns these preferences and makes automatic changes to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi compatibility, you can remotely access your heating and cooling from a mobile device or tablet.
Smart thermostats are loaded with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For example, certain models can monitor electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can also work with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the perfect tool to simplify how you use your comfort system. If you’re considering investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can reduce your costs, in essence 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 stir up any trouble while you’re away from home.