From a much-needed vacation or a lengthy trip for work, traveling means making plans for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it if you’re on a trip, so you can adjust it as necessary to limit your energy use. Simultaneously, you shouldn't just shut it down for the entire duration of your trip.
For the most part, it’s best to leave your HVAC system going and just make adjustments depending on the season. That way you can reduce energy costs without stressing about getting back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll review why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the best thermostat settings for summer and winter.
Here’s Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat on Hold
While you could be inclined to turn your HVAC system off before a trip, this could end up leading to big problems by the time you come back. This is particularly true if the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
For example, shutting the HVAC system off during the summer will sometimes lead to very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you come back, but it may have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And over the winter, not using the furnace might lead to pipes freezing or even bursting. It’s never fun to get home from a vacation only to find considerable water damage near a broken pipe.
Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can optimize the temperature even if you’re coming and going to work. Since you’re away for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home the same temperature as when you're home. Generally, it’s encouraged to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. That means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try increasing it to 76-77 while you’re out.
But you may save even more if you try further adjustments to the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you might 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 heart of summer, you can make larger adjustments. This ensures you don’t waste energy while still defending your home from the issues that come with leaving it without air conditioning. Something like 5 degrees is recommended for short trips while around 10 degrees is worthwhile if you’ll be gone for 2 weeks or longer. If you enjoy keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 will offer the best results.
Best Thermostat Settings While On a Trip in Winter
To determine the best thermostat setting for a winter getaway, 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 minimizing how frequently your furnace operates.
Smart Thermostats Are Even Better: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat
One of the best ways to regulate your home’s HVAC system while away from home is by investing in a smart thermostat. This advanced type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to track your typical comfort habits. It gradually understands these preferences and makes automatic changes to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can remotely access your HVAC system using a smart device like a phone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For instance, specific models can observe electricity prices to boost heating or cooling when prices are more affordable. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the perfect tool to streamline how you control your comfort system. If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can lower your costs, essentially 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 cause any trouble while you’re away from home.