Between a relaxing vacation or a long trip for work, traveling means making preparations for your HVAC system. You can't use it while you’re on a trip, so you can adjust it as needed to minimize your energy use. Simultaneously, you shouldn't just shut it down for the entire time you're gone.
In general, it’s better to leave your HVAC system on and adjust the temperature depending on the season. That way you can lower energy costs without having to worry about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll review why you should leave your HVAC system on as well as the most energy-efficient thermostat settings for different times of year.
Here’s Why You Don't Leave Your Thermostat on Hold
While you might be inclined to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this will sometimes end up stirring up big problems by the time you come back. This is notably true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
For example, switching the HVAC system off in the summer will sometimes cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel gross when you come back, but it could have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And over the winter, leaving the furnace off can lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s an awful feeling to get home from a long trip only to find substantial water damage close to a broken pipe.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can optimize the temperature even as you come and go to work. Because you’re out of the house for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t help your monthly energy bill to keep an empty home the same temperature as when you're home. In general, it’s suggested to adjust the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try increasing it to 76-77 while you’re gone.
But you may save even more if you try further adjustments to the temperature. According to the Department of Energy, you may save about 10% on your HVAC expenses by raising the temperature by about 7-10 degrees.
Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While on a Trip in Summer
If you’re leaving for a lengthier trip in the middle of summer, you can make more significant adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still safeguarding your home from the issues that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. Around 5 degrees is appropriate for short trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is best if you’ll be away from home for 2 weeks or longer. If you like keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 should offer the best results.
Recommended Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter
To try and find the ideal thermostat setting for a winter vacation, 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 keep your plumbing safe while restricting how frequently your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Advantages of a Smart Thermostat
One of the best ways to regulate your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is with a smart thermostat. This advanced type of programmable thermostat employs 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 connectivity, you can remotely access your heating and cooling from a mobile device or tablet.
Smart thermostats are loaded with features to help you save even more. For example, certain models can track electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They are compatible with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to refine how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the perfect tool to simplify how you control your comfort system. If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can reduce your costs, essentially getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you are away from home, you can appreciate true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t stir up any trouble while you’re away.