Between a relaxing vacation or a long trip for work, leaving home means making preparations for your HVAC system. You can't use it if you’re away, so you can make adjustments as appropriate to limit your energy use. Just the same, you shouldn't just turn it off for the entire time you're out of the house.

Instead, it’s better to leave your HVAC system on and just make adjustments depending on whether it's winter or summer. That way you can lower energy costs without worrying about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you shouldn’t turn your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for various times of year.

Here’s Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat on Hold

While you could be wanting to leave your HVAC system off before a trip, this will sometimes end up stirring up costly problems by the time you come back. This is notably true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re out of town.

As an example, shutting the HVAC system off in the summer could cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel like a swamp when you have returned, but it may have also invited mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.

And during the winter, leaving the furnace off will sometimes lead to pipes icing over or even bursting. It’s an awful feeling to return home from a long trip only to discover substantial 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 out of the house for about 8 hours or longer, it doesn’t help your monthly energy bill to keep an empty home the same temperature as when you're home. Generally, it’s encouraged to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. This means that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, consider raising it to 76-77 while you’re out.

But you could save even more if you try further adjustments to the temperature. According to the Department of Energy, you may save nearly 10% on your HVAC costs by increasing the adjustment to 7-10 degrees.

Ideal Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Summer

If you’re leaving for an extended trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make larger adjustments. This helps you avoid using too much energy while still protecting your home from the hassles 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 out of town for 2 weeks or more. If you like keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 can offer beneficial results.

Best Thermostat Settings While on Vacation in Winter

To try and find the best thermostat setting for a winter getaway, simply lower it by the same amount you would adjust it in summer. 68 is a common winter thermostat setting, so lowering it to 63-58 will protect your plumbing while minimizing how long your furnace runs.

A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat

One of the best ways to manage your home’s HVAC system while out of the house is with a smart thermostat. This special type of programmable thermostat uses intelligent software to understand your typical comfort habits. It learns these preferences and makes automatic changes to the schedule for maximum energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can remotely access your heating and cooling with a smartphone or tablet.

Smart thermostats are loaded with features to help you save even more. For instance, specific models can track electricity prices to boost heating or cooling when prices are lowest. They can be used with high-efficiency, variable-speed equipment to fine-tune how long your HVAC system needs to run. It’s the ideal tool to streamline how you use your comfort system. If you’re considering investing in a smart thermostat, there are a variety of 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 gone.