From a tropical vacation or a lengthy trip for work, leaving home means making preparations for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it while you’re away, so you can adjust the temperature as needed to minimize your energy use. Simultaneously, you shouldn't just shut it down for the entire time you're gone.
In general, it’s ideal to leave your HVAC system going and adjust the temperature depending on the season. That way you can lower energy costs without worrying about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll review why you should leave your HVAC system on as well as the best thermostat settings for summer and winter.
Here’s Why You Don't Leave Your Thermostat Alone
While you could be tempted to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this could end up stirring up annoying problems by the time you get back. This is notably true when the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re out of town.
For instance, turning the HVAC system off during the summer will sometimes produce 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 in the winter, letting your house get cold could lead to pipes freezing or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a nice trip only to discover extensive water damage close to a broken pipe.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can adjust the temperature even as you come and go to work. Because you’re not home for around 8 hours or so, it doesn’t help your monthly energy bill to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. As a general rule, it’s recommended to adjust the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try raising it to 76-77 while you’re gone.
But you may save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As stated by the Department of Energy, you may save around 10% on your HVAC expenses by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Summer
If you’re leaving for an extended trip in the middle of summer, you can make more significant adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still safeguarding your home from the problems that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. About 5 degrees is suitable for shorter trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is best if you’ll be out of town for 2 weeks or longer. If you like keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 can offer beneficial results.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter
To figure out the most energy-efficient thermostat setting for a winter getaway, simply lower it by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a popular winter thermostat setting, so turning it down to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while limiting how often your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Advantages 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 advanced type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to track your typical comfort habits. It applies these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for higher energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi compatibility, you can remotely access your heating and cooling using a smart device like a phone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save on your energy bill. For instance, certain models can observe electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are lower. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system has to run. It’s the ideal 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 reduce your costs, effectively getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you leave for vacation, you can appreciate true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t cause any trouble while you’re away.