From a much-needed vacation or an extended trip for work, leaving home means making plans for your heating and cooling system. You don't need it if 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.
Instead, 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 explain why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off 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 tempted to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this could end up stirring up costly problems by the time you return. This is notably true if the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re out of town.
For instance, switching the HVAC system down in the summer will sometimes cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you have returned, but it might have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And in the winter, leaving the furnace off could lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s never fun to come home from a nice trip only to come across extensive water damage nearby a broken pipe.
Energy-Efficient 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 8 hours or more, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home heated or cooled as if you were there. Generally, it’s recommended to adjust the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try adjusting it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you could save even more if you try further adjustments to the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you could save nearly 10% on your HVAC costs by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.
Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Summer
If you're on a longer trip in the heart of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still safeguarding your home from the hassles that come with leaving it uncooled. Something like 5 degrees is appropriate for short trips while around 10 degrees is ideal if you’ll be gone for 2 weeks or longer. If you prefer keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 can offer beneficial results.
Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter
To determine the best thermostat setting for a winter vacation, simply lower it by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a common winter thermostat setting, so adjusting to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while minimizing how frequently your furnace runs.
A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat
One of the best ways to manage your home’s HVAC system while away is by investing in a smart thermostat. This advanced type of programmable thermostat uses intelligent software to understand your typical comfort habits. It learns these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi compatibility, you can remotely adjust your HVAC system using a smartphone or tablet.
Smart thermostats are loaded with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For instance, certain models can monitor electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are more affordable. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to fine-tune how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the ideal tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, there are different ways you can reduce your costs, essentially getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you are away from home, you can receive true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t stir up any trouble while you’re away.