Between a relaxing vacation or a lengthy trip for work, taking a trip means making preparations for your HVAC system. You don't need it if you’re away, so you can make adjustments as appropriate to limit your energy use. Simultaneously, you don’t want to just leave it off for the entire time you're gone.
In general, it’s best to leave your HVAC system on and adjust the temperature depending on the time of year. That way you can minimize energy costs without having to worry about returning to an uncomfortable home. We’ll walk you through why you shouldn’t turn your HVAC system off as well as the most energy-efficient thermostat settings for summer and winter.
This Is Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat on Hold
While you might be inclined to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this could end up leading to big problems by the time you come back. This is especially true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re away from home.
For instance, turning the HVAC system down in the summer could lead to very high humidity. Not only will your home feel muggy and uncomfortable when you come back, but it might have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And in the winter, letting your house get cold could lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s exhausting to come home from a vacation only to come across extensive water damage nearby a broken pipe.
Best Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can optimize the temperature even when you're just going to work. Because you’re away for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t make sense to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. In general, it’s recommended to raise the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, think about raising it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you can save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As stated by the Department of Energy, you might save about 10% on your HVAC costs by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer
If you leave for an extended trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make more significant adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still protecting your home from the issues that come with leaving it uncooled. Around 5 degrees is recommended for shorter trips while closer to 10 degrees is best if you’ll be gone 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 Away from Home in Winter
To figure out the most energy-efficient 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 adjusting to 63-58 will prevent ice from forming on pipes while restricting how frequently your furnace operates.
Smart Thermostats Are Even Better: Advantages of a Smart Thermostat
One of the best ways to optimize your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is by investing in a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to monitor your typical comfort habits. It applies these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for better energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi integration, you can remotely control your HVAC system using a smart device like a phone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are stuffed with features to help you save on your energy bill. To provide an example, specific models can monitor electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are lower. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to refine how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the optimal tool to enhance how you use your comfort system. If you’re planning on 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 leave for vacation, you can appreciate true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t stir up any trouble while you’re gone.