Between a relaxing vacation or a long trip for work, traveling means making preparations for your home comfort system. You won’t be using it as long as you’re on a trip, so you can adjust the temperature as appropriate to minimize your energy use. At the same time, you shouldn't just turn it off for the entire time you're gone.

For the most part, it’s best to leave your HVAC system going and just raise or lower depending on the time of year. That way you can reduce energy costs without having to worry about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll explain why you should leave your HVAC system on as well as the best thermostat settings for various times of year.

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Thermostat on Hold

While you may be inclined to turn your HVAC system off before a trip, this can end up stirring up big problems by the time you get back. This is especially true if the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re away from home.

As an example, switching the HVAC system off in the summer will sometimes cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel muggy and uncomfortable when you have returned, but it may have also stimulated mold/mildew growth or pest infestations.

And in the winter, letting your house get cold might lead to pipes freezing up or even bursting. It’s never fun to return home from a nice trip only to come across 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. Because you’re out of the house for 8 hours or more, it doesn’t help your monthly energy bill to keep an empty home at the same temperature you’d usually have. As a general rule, it’s encouraged to turn up the thermostat by 5 degrees or so. Meaning that if you prefer a comfortable 72 degrees, consider 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 about 10% on your HVAC spending by raising the temperature by about 7-10 degrees.

Ideal Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Summer

If you leave for a lengthier trip in the hottest part of summer, you can make larger adjustments. This prevents wasting energy while still protecting your home from the problems that come with leaving it without air conditioning. Something like 5 degrees is recommended for shorter trips while around 10 degrees is best if you’ll be away from home for 2 weeks or longer. If you like keeping the house at 72 in the summer, 78-82 can offer great results.

Recommended Thermostat Settings While Away from Home in Winter

To figure out the best thermostat setting for a winter getaway, consider lowering the temperature by the same amount you would raise it in summer. 68 is a frequent winter thermostat setting, so turning it down to 63-58 will keep your plumbing safe while minimizing how long your furnace operates.

A Smart Thermostat Can Help: Benefits of a Smart Thermostat

One of the best ways to regulate your home’s HVAC system while away is using a smart thermostat. This innovative type of programmable thermostat employs intelligent software to understand your usual comfort habits. It gradually understands these preferences and makes automatic corrections to the schedule for better energy efficiency. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can remotely control your HVAC system from a smartphone or tablet.

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