From a relaxing vacation or a lengthy trip for work, taking a trip means making plans for your heating and cooling system. You don't need it if you’re on a trip, so you can adjust the temperature as needed to limit your energy use. At the same time, you shouldn't 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 lower energy costs without worrying about returning to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you shouldn’t turn your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for summer and winter.

This Is Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat Alone

While you could be inclined to shut your HVAC system down before a trip, this will sometimes end up stirring up big problems by the time you come back. This is especially true if the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.

For instance, switching the HVAC system down in the summer can produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel muggy and uncomfortable when you return, but it could have also encouraged mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.

And over the winter, not using the furnace might lead to pipes freezing or even bursting. It’s exhausting to come home from a long trip only to find extensive water damage close to a broken pipe.

Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While at Work

You can adjust the temperature even as you come and go to work. Since you’re away for 8 hours or more, it doesn’t seem sensible to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. In general, it’s suggested to raise 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 stated 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 on a Trip in Summer

If you’re leaving for an extended trip in the heart of summer, you can make more significant adjustments. This helps you avoid using too much energy while still protecting your home from the problems that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. Around 5 degrees is suitable for short trips while around 10 degrees is worthwhile if you’ll be away from home for 2 weeks or more. If you enjoy keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 should offer great results.

Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter

To determine the best thermostat setting for a winter getaway, consider lowering the temperature by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a common winter thermostat setting, so turning it down to 63-58 will prevent ice from forming on pipes while minimizing how often your furnace runs.

A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Benefits of Smart Thermostat Installation

A great way to optimize your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is by investing in a smart thermostat. This special type of programmable thermostat employs intelligent software to understand your typical comfort habits. It applies these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for better energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi integration, you can remotely control your heating and cooling using a smartphone or tablet.

Smart thermostats are stuffed with features to help you save energy and lower costs. For example, specific models can track electricity prices to bolster heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to refine how long your HVAC system should run. It’s the optimal tool to enhance how you control your comfort system. If you’re planning on investing in a smart thermostat, there are different ways you can lower your costs, essentially getting a smart thermostat for free. The next time you leave for vacation, you can receive true peace of mind that your HVAC system won’t cause any trouble while you’re away from home.