From a much-needed vacation or an extended trip for work, taking a trip means making preparations for your home comfort system. You won’t be using it as long as you’re not home, so you can adjust it as needed to limit your energy use. Just the same, you shouldn't just turn 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 reduce energy costs without worrying about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the most energy-efficient thermostat settings for various times of year.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat Alone
While you may be inclined to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this will sometimes end up leading to annoying problems by the time you come back. This is notably true when the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
For example, turning the HVAC system down during the summer can lead to very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you have returned, but it could have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And over the winter, letting your house get cold can lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s an awful feeling to return home from a vacation only to find extensive water damage nearby a broken pipe.
Best Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can adjust the temperature even when you're just going to work. Since you’re not home for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home heated or cooled as if you were there. Generally, it’s encouraged to raise the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, consider adjusting it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you may save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As stated by the Department of Energy, you could save about 10% on your HVAC costs by raising the temperature by about 7-10 degrees.
Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While on a Trip in Summer
If you’re leaving for an extended trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make more significant adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still defending your home from the issues that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. About 5 degrees is appropriate for shorter trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is best if you’ll be out of town for 2 weeks or more. If you prefer keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 should offer beneficial results.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While On a Trip in Winter
To figure out the ideal thermostat setting for a winter trip, simply lower it by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a popular winter thermostat setting, so lowering it to 63-58 will protect your plumbing while minimizing how frequently your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Perks of Smart Thermostat Installation
One of the best ways to manage your home’s HVAC system while away is with a smart thermostat. This advanced 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 higher energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi integration, you can remotely access your heating and cooling with a mobile device or tablet.
Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For example, specific models can track electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are more affordable. They can also work with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to fine-tune how long your HVAC system has 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 multiple 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 away.