Whether it’s a tropical vacation or a lengthy trip for work, taking a trip means making plans for your heating and cooling system. You can't use it if you’re away, so you can adjust the temperature as needed to limit your energy use. At the same time, you shouldn't just leave it off for the entire duration of your trip.
For the most part, it’s better to leave your HVAC system on and just make adjustments depending on the time of year. That way you can minimize energy costs without stressing about getting 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 different times of year.
This Is Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat Alone
While you might be tempted to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this can end up causing big problems by the time you come back. This is particularly true when the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
For example, turning the HVAC system off during the summer could produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel muggy and uncomfortable when you come back, but it may have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And over the winter, leaving the furnace off can lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a vacation only to come across 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. Since you’re out of the house for around 8 hours or so, it doesn’t make sense to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. As a general rule, it’s encouraged to adjust the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, consider increasing it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you could save even more if you're open to further adjusting the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you may save around 10% on your HVAC costs by making an adjustment of 7-10 degrees.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While on a Trip in Summer
If you're on a lengthier trip in the heart 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. Around 5 degrees is suitable for brief trips while around 10 degrees is best if you’ll be gone for 2 weeks or longer. If you like keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 can offer great results.
Best Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Winter
To determine the best thermostat setting for a winter getaway, consider lowering the temperature by the same amount you would raise it in summer. 68 is a common winter thermostat setting, so lowering it to 63-58 will protect your plumbing while limiting how frequently your furnace operates.
Smart Thermostats Are Even Better: Benefits of Smart Thermostat Installation
An ideal strategy to optimize your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is using a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to track your usual comfort habits. It applies these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi integration, you can remotely adjust your heating and cooling 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, some models can track electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are lowest. 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 streamline how you control 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 leave for vacation, you can receive true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t cause any trouble while you’re away from home.
