Whether it’s a tropical vacation or an extended trip for work, taking a trip means making preparations for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it if you’re not home, so you can adjust it as appropriate to minimize your energy use. Simultaneously, you don’t want to just shut it down for the entire duration of your trip.
In general, it’s better to leave your HVAC system going and just make adjustments depending on the time of year. That way you can minimize energy costs without having to worry about returning to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for different times of year.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat on Hold
While you could be tempted to turn your HVAC system off before a trip, this can end up leading to big problems by the time you return. This is particularly true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.
As an example, switching the HVAC system off in the summer can produce very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you return, but it may have also encouraged mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.
And during the winter, leaving the furnace off will sometimes lead to pipes freezing or even bursting. It’s never fun to get home from a long trip only to come across substantial water damage near a broken pipe.