From a relaxing vacation or an extended trip for work, leaving home means making plans for your home comfort system. You don't need it as long as you’re on a trip, so you can adjust the temperature as needed to minimize your energy use. Simultaneously, you shouldn't just leave it off for the entire time you're out of the house.

In general, it’s best to leave your HVAC system on and just raise or lower depending on the season. That way you can reduce energy costs without worrying about getting back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should leave your HVAC system on as well as the ideal thermostat settings for summer and winter.

Here’s Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat on Hold

While you might be inclined to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this can end up causing costly problems by the time you come back. This is notably true if the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re out of town.

As an example, shutting the HVAC system down during the summer could produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel gross when you come back, but it may have also stimulated 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 an awful feeling to get home from a long trip only to discover substantial 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 8 hours or more, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home the same temperature as when you're home. Generally, it’s recommended to raise the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try adjusting it to 76-77 while you’re gone.

But you could save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As stated by the Department of Energy, you may save about 10% on your HVAC costs by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.

Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer

If you leave for a lengthier trip in the heart of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This helps you avoid using too much energy while still defending your home from the problems that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. Around 5 degrees is appropriate for brief trips while around 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 beneficial results.

Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter

To determine the ideal thermostat setting for a winter getaway, just lower the temperature by the same amount you would raise it in summer. 68 is a frequent winter thermostat setting, so adjusting to 63-58 will prevent ice from forming on pipes while minimizing how often your furnace operates.

A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Perks of Smart Thermostat Installation

One of the best ways to manage your home’s HVAC system while away from home 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 adjustments to the schedule for higher energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can remotely access your heating and cooling with a mobile device or tablet.

Smart thermostats are loaded with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For example, some models can track electricity prices to boost heating or cooling when prices are lower. They are compatible with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the perfect tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can lower your costs, effectively getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you are away from home, you can enjoy true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t stir up any trouble while you’re gone.