If you’re getting ready to leave for vacation, your feelings might go toward packing your suitcase and making sure all your travel arrangements are in order. But you'll also want to prepare the house for your time away as well.
One typical question people share is this: What will I need to adjust my thermostat to while I'm on vacation? Your hope will often be to reduce costs, but don’t be tempted to completely turn off your HVAC system. The furnace or AC system still needs to run a little to prevent extreme heat or cold, depending on the season. Here’s what you should consider about setting your thermostat when you are gone on vacation.
Adjusting the Thermostat for a Summer Vacation
If you’re traveling at the peak of summer, you can generally expect the temperature inside your house to go up as it gets hotter and hotter outside each day. Without air conditioning, the temperature could rapidly exceed 90 degrees inside—not happy news if you’re concerned about fragile belongings.
A good suggestion is to adjust the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees higher than you ordinarily do throughout the day without reaching above 85 degrees. This is a great compromise between saving energy and protecting the interior of your home.
If you have a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat, don't forget that a “temporary” hold should return to your typical schedule at the next programmed time. So you need to select the “permanent” or “vacation” hold setting when you're on vacation to make sure your chosen temperature sticks.
Adjusting the Thermostat for a Winter Vacation
To decide the perfect thermostat setting when traveling in the winter, use the same means proposed above, but in reverse—that is, adjust' the temperature 5 to 10 degrees lower than you generally do during the day without dropping below 60 degrees.
The most important reason to continue heating your home while you’re on vacation is to prevent frozen pipes. Your plumbing that runs along exterior walls and inside unfinished spaces is the most at risk. Holding the temperature at 60 degrees or up limits this risk. Another great idea is to have the cupboard doors open to help warm air flow around the pipes underneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks. You might also want to turn off the water at the central shut-off valve to protect against a plumbing disaster while you’re away.
Adjusting a Smart Thermostat Before Going on Vacation
If you don’t already use a Wi-Fi or “smart” thermostat, this could be a wonderful time to upgrade. The latest enhancements in thermostat technology feature outstanding benefits, both while you’re at home and on vacation.
For instance, you can check in on the temperature remotely using your tablet or smartphone. Verify how often the AC or furnace has been running in your absence as it holds the temperature you chose before you left. If you’re not happy with what you see, you can change the thermostat from wherever via your internet-enabled device. You can even set a comfortable temperature to resume when you’re just about an hour away from home.
For even more peace of mind, Wi-Fi thermostats warn you of unforeseen environmental variations, such as a higher-than-expected temperature or increased moisture while you’re gone.
More Vacation Recommendations
Keep these things in mind to see to it that your home is good to go before leaving on your trip:
- Don't forget about any delicate paintings, electronics or houseplants that can be vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
- If you’re leaving pets at home or have arranged to have a house sitter stop by, you might want to leave the temperature closer to normal—such as 80 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter—so the conditions are comfortable enough for them.
- Shut your blinds and drapes to help keep the hot sun or cold winter air outside of your home. This also helps with privacy since it stops prying eyes from looking inside while you’re absent.
- Schedule HVAC maintenance before you leave to ensure your system operates correctly and is unlikely to encounter any trouble while you’re gone.
Call Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning
Whether you have thermostat-related questions or are looking to schedule HVAC maintenance before your upcoming vacation, the HVAC experts at Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning are here to assist. We can point you to a new thermostat for your needs and even install it and demonstrate how it works. Our services cover all your HVAC goals, from maintenance and repair to installation and replacement. Call us today to share questions or request a visit from one of our qualified heating and cooling technicians.