Whether it’s a tropical vacation or an extended trip for work, traveling means making preparations for your home comfort system. You can't use it while you’re not home, so you can adjust it as necessary to conserve your energy use. Simultaneously, you don’t want to just leave it off for the entire duration of your trip.
For the most part, it’s better to leave your HVAC system running and adjust the temperature depending on the time of year. That way you can lower energy costs without having to worry about getting back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for various times of year.
This Is Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat on Hold
While you could be tempted to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this will sometimes end up stirring up costly 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, turning the HVAC system off during the summer can lead to very high humidity. Not only will your home feel gross when you come back, but it could have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And during the winter, letting your house get cold could lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s an awful feeling to return home from a nice trip only to discover extensive water damage near a broken pipe.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can make temperature adjustments even when you're just going to work. Since you’re out of the house for around 8 hours or so, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home the same temperature as when you're home. As a general rule, it’s recommended to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, consider raising it to 76-77 while you’re out.
But you can save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you may save nearly 10% on your HVAC spending by making an adjustment of 7-10 degrees.
Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer
If you’re leaving for a longer 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 uncooled. Around 5 degrees is recommended for shorter trips while around 10 degrees is ideal if you’ll be gone for 2 weeks or more. If you enjoy 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 most energy-efficient thermostat setting for a winter trip, just lower the temperature by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a frequent winter thermostat setting, so adjusting to 63-58 will prevent ice from forming on pipes while limiting how often your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Advantages of Smart Thermostat Installation
An ideal strategy to regulate your home’s HVAC system while away is using 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 corrections to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi integration, you can remotely adjust your heating and cooling with a smart device like a phone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save on your energy bill. For instance, some models can observe electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the optimal tool to simplify 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 enjoy true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t stir up any trouble while you’re away.
