Between a tropical vacation or a lengthy trip for work, leaving home means making plans for your heating and cooling system. You can't use it if you’re on a trip, so you can adjust it as necessary to minimize your energy use. At the same time, you shouldn't just leave it off for the entire time you're gone.

In general, it’s best to leave your HVAC system going and just raise or lower depending on the season. That way you can lower energy costs without having to worry about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the best thermostat settings for summer and winter.

This Is Why You Don't Leave Your Thermostat on Hold

While you might be inclined to turn your HVAC system off before a trip, this could end up causing costly problems by the time you return. This is especially true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re gone.

For example, turning the HVAC system down during the summer will sometimes cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you have returned, but it could have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.

And over the winter, not using the furnace could lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s exhausting to return home from a nice trip only to find substantial water damage nearby a broken pipe.

Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings While at Work

You can adjust the temperature even when you're just going to work. Because you’re away for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t make sense to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. Generally, it’s suggested to raise the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. That means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, think about increasing it to 76-77 while you’re gone.

But you may save even more if you’re willing to further adjust the temperature. As reported by the Department of Energy, you might save around 10% on your HVAC costs by making an adjustment of 7-10 degrees.

Best Thermostat Settings While on a Trip in Summer

If you’re leaving for a lengthier trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make bigger adjustments. This ensures you don’t waste energy while still defending your home from the hassles that come with leaving it un-air conditioned. About 5 degrees is suitable for short trips while a larger adjustment of 10 degrees is ideal if you’ll be away from home for 2 weeks or longer. If you prefer keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 will offer great results.

Ideal Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Winter

To try and find the best thermostat setting for a winter vacation, consider lowering the temperature by the same amount you would raise it in summer. 68 is a common winter thermostat setting, so adjusting to 63-58 will protect your plumbing while limiting how frequently your furnace runs.

A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Perks of a Smart Thermostat

One of the best ways to manage your home’s HVAC system while away is by investing in a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat employs intelligent software to track your usual comfort habits. It gradually understands these preferences and makes automatic changes to the schedule for better energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi compatibility, you can remotely access your heating and cooling from a smartphone or tablet.

Smart thermostats are stuffed with features to help you save even more. For example, specific models can track electricity prices to increase heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can also work with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to refine how long your HVAC system has to run. It’s the optimal tool to streamline how you control your comfort system. If you’re considering investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of ways you can bring down your costs, effectively 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 stir up any trouble while you’re gone.