From a much-needed vacation or a lengthy trip for work, taking a trip means making plans for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it as long as you’re away, so you can adjust it as needed to limit your energy use. Just the same, you don’t want to just shut it down for the entire duration of your trip.
For the most part, it’s best to leave your HVAC system running and just make adjustments depending on whether it's winter or summer. That way you can minimize energy costs without having to worry about returning to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should leave your HVAC system on as well as the most energy-efficient thermostat settings for different times of year.
This Is Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat Alone
While you might be inclined to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this could end up causing costly problems by the time you get back. This is especially true when the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re away from home.
For instance, switching the HVAC system down in the summer could lead to very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you return, but it might have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And during the winter, leaving the furnace off can lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s exhausting to return home from a long trip only to find considerable water damage near a broken pipe.
Ideal Thermostat Settings While at Work
You can make temperature adjustments even when you're just going to work. Since you’re away for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home heated or cooled as if you were there. Generally, it’s suggested to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try adjusting it to 76-77 while you’re at work.
But you may save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. According to the Department of Energy, you might save nearly 10% on your HVAC expenses by raising the temperature by about 7-10 degrees.
Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer
If you’re leaving for a lengthier trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make more significant adjustments. This helps you avoid using too much energy while still defending your home from the issues that come with leaving it uncooled. Around 5 degrees is appropriate for shorter trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is worthwhile if you’ll be out of town for 2 weeks or more. If you enjoy keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 should offer the best results.
Best Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Winter
To figure out the best thermostat setting for a winter vacation, 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 restricting how often your furnace runs.
Smart Thermostats Are Even Better: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat
A great way to optimize your home’s HVAC system while away is using a smart thermostat. This special type of programmable thermostat uses 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 compatibility, you can remotely access your heating and cooling using a mobile device or tablet.
Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save on your energy bill. For instance, specific models can observe electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are more affordable. They can also work with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the perfect tool to enhance how you control your comfort system. If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, there are multiple ways you can bring down 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 cause any trouble while you’re away.