From a much-needed vacation or a long trip for work, taking a trip means making preparations for your heating and cooling system. You can't use it as long as you’re not home, so you can make adjustments as necessary to limit your energy use. At the same time, you don’t want to just shut it down for the entire time you're gone.
Instead, it’s best to leave your HVAC system running and just raise or lower depending on whether it's winter or summer. That way you can reduce energy costs without worrying about getting back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll walk you through why you shouldn’t turn your HVAC system off as well as the best thermostat settings for different times of year.
Here’s Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat Alone
While you could be inclined to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this can end up causing annoying 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.
As an example, switching the HVAC system off during the summer can produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you have returned, but it may have also encouraged mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And over the winter, leaving the furnace off might lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a long trip only to discover substantial water damage nearby a broken pipe.
Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can make temperature adjustments even when you're just going to work. Since you’re away for around 8 hours or so, it doesn’t help your monthly energy bill to keep an empty home heated or cooled as if you were there. As a general rule, it’s suggested to adjust the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, consider raising it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you can save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you might save nearly 10% on your HVAC spending 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 heart of summer, you can make larger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still protecting your home from the issues that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. Around 5 degrees is recommended for short trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is worthwhile 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 will offer beneficial results.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While On a Trip in Winter
To figure out 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 popular winter thermostat setting, so adjusting to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while minimizing how often your furnace operates.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat
A great way to manage your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is with a smart thermostat. This special type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to track your typical comfort habits. It learns these preferences and makes automatic changes to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi compatibility, 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 even more. For example, specific models can monitor electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to fine-tune how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the optimal tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re considering investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can reduce 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.