How to Manage Your Home A/C While On Vacation

Whether you’re headed out of town on a work trip or family vacation, you will be leaving your home unoccupied for several days. What should you do about your air conditioner? You don’t want to shut it off and come back to a sweltering house, but also don’t want to waste money on cooling the home while away. Follow our advice to properly manage your A/C unit.

Avoid a Complete Shutdown

While it may be tempting to turn off the system and forget about it, your air conditioner does more than keep the house cool. The unit helps circulates air, control humidity levels and make the air more breathable.

If you shut the A/C off, your home will be oppressively hot upon your return and may feel humid or stuffy. Uncontrolled humidity can also lead to condensation and mold, which can further contribute to respiratory issues.

Turn Up the Thermostat

Experts recommend raising the temperature of your thermostat anywhere from 4 to 10 degrees higher than normal while away. This allows the system to turn on periodically but won’t consume as much energy. If the thermostat is usually set to 73 degrees, bump it up to the high seventies so it continues to run at a reasonable pace.

Neglecting to adjust the thermostat is a waste of energy and money, since there will be no one home to enjoy the comfort! Don’t make your air conditioner work just as hard for an empty house as a full one. On the other hand, turning the A/C off completely will force the unit to work twice as hard to cool the house back down when you return.

Close Up the House

Draw the curtains and close the blinds to keep the hot sun out. That way, your home will stay cooler for longer, so the A/C doesn’t kick on more than it needs to. If some windows and doors are drafty, minimize these air leaks with caulk, weather strips or insulated window film.
 
Even while away from home, it’s important to keep the internal temperature comfortable to avoid wasted energy and high costs. To make sure your air conditioning is functioning properly, contact our experts at M.J. Fahy & Sons. We have been in business since 1890!