When you head out for a summer vacation, you know there are certain things that have to happen before you journey towards fun in the sun. You have to board the pets, pack bags, load the car, arm the security system- but what about your HVAC system? What’s the proper temperature to set your thermostat to while you’re away? Patterson Heating and Air Conditioning has some tips on how to use your A/C system during a summer vacation.
Set thermostat to 80° or higher
You should always remember to turn up the A/C before you leave on vacation. Why waste energy keeping your house cool and comfortable while no one’s home? Every degree that you turn the A/C up could save you money, but a good temperature to aim for is around 80°. But if turning up the A/C saves money, why not just turn it off completely? Well, if you power your air conditioner off before your vacation, it will waste a large amount of energy cooling your home again once it’s turned back on. This will take longer to cool your home and can make a real impact on your energy bill.
Prepare your home for summer vacation
Aside from the thermostat, there are other steps you should take to prepare your home for a vacation. Change your air filters to keep your HVAC system running efficiently, and close your blinds so that sunlight doesn’t make your home warmer. In addition, upgrade your home to a programmable thermostat. Some of the programmable thermostats on the market today will allow you to access your thermostat through your smart phone. This will enable you to start setting your thermostat gradually back to the proper temperature for when you return from vacation. Finally, schedule HVAC maintenance with Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning to prevent any damage occurring to your equipment while you’re away.
Call us today to schedule your summer HVAC maintenance!
