What to Set Your Thermostat to When Away

Between a relaxing vacation or an extended trip for work, taking a trip means making plans for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it if you’re on a trip, so you can make adjustments as needed to limit your energy use. Just the same, you shouldn't just leave it off for the entire duration of your trip.

For the most part, it’s ideal to leave your HVAC system on and just raise or lower depending on the time of year. That way you can lower 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 ideal thermostat settings for summer and winter.

This Is Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat Alone

While you might be tempted to turn your HVAC system off before a trip, this can end up causing costly problems by the time you return. This is notably true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re away from home.

For instance, turning the HVAC system off during the summer could cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel gross when you come back, but it may have also encouraged mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.

And during the winter, leaving the furnace off might lead to pipes freezing or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a vacation only to come across extensive water damage close to a broken pipe.

Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While at Work

You can make temperature adjustments even as you come and go 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 at the same temperature you’d usually have. In general, it’s recommended to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. That means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, try increasing it to 76-77 while you’re gone.

But you can save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you could save nearly 10% on your HVAC expenses by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.

Ideal Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer

If you leave for an extended trip in the heart of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still safeguarding your home from the problems that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. Something like 5 degrees is suitable for shorter trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is ideal if you’ll be away from home for 2 weeks or more. If you prefer 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 most energy-efficient thermostat setting for a winter trip, simply lower it by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a frequent winter thermostat setting, so lowering it to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while restricting how long your furnace operates.

Smart Thermostats Are Even Better: Perks of Smart Thermostat Installation

One of the best ways to regulate your home’s HVAC system while away is by investing in a smart thermostat. This advanced type of programmable thermostat utilizes intelligent software to track your usual 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 from a smart device like a phone or tablet.

Smart thermostats are packed with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For example, specific models can observe electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are more affordable. They are compatible with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to optimize how long your HVAC system has to run. It’s the optimal tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re planning on investing in a smart thermostat, there are multiple ways you can reduce your costs, in essence 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 cause any trouble while you’re away from home.