You want to keep your home’s costs low while you’re away on vacation, but you want to make sure your Sanford, FL, home is properly cared for as well. What’s the best course of action for your air conditioning settings? We have the breakdown you need to determine the temperature you should set your AC system to while you’re away.
Why You Need to Use AC on Vacation
It’s tempting to simply turn off your air conditioner entirely while you’re away on vacation. Who needs the expense of cooling an empty house? While this may seem thrifty, it’s not the best plan for your home. You should unplug other appliances, such as your television, gaming system, and computer to avoid using vampire power. However, you’ll want to keep your air conditioner up and running.
If your home has no AC for an extended period, it can suffer serious damage from excess heat and humidity. When the high heat and humidity linger in the home, your drywall can begin to deteriorate and accumulate moisture. If humidity levels go above 55 percent, biological growth such as mold, dust mites, fleas, and invasive insects will appear. Your air conditioner both cools and dehumidifies the home to help you prevent these types of problems.
Temperature Settings
Typically, you should set your temperature no higher than 84 degrees when you’re on summer vacation, and the outdoor temperature is in the high 90s. Spring and fall vacations can vary. The system needs to run a few hours per day to cool and dehumidify your home. A good rule of thumb is set it a few degrees lower than the daily high temperature outside. This should keep your air conditioner cycling often enough to reduce humidity in the air, keep temperatures within a safe range for your home’s construction, and help you lower your home’s energy expenses.
Adjust Your Programmable and Wi-Fi Thermostat
If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure you adjust all the time block settings. Fortunately, most programmable thermostats pair with smartphone apps, so you can fix the settings from anywhere. This is ideal if you have a house sitter coming in to take care of things occasionally while you’re gone. You can check the temperature remotely to make sure your sitter didn’t make unnecessary adjustments while he or she was in the home.
Special Considerations for Pets
If you have pets that will be in the home while you’re away, speak with your veterinarian about the best temperature for them. Some animals may need a temperature lower than 84 to stay comfortable and healthy. Make sure your pets have plenty of water while you’re away, as they’ll likely need to drink more if you’re keeping the home warmer.
Don’t forget to schedule your annual air conditioning maintenance visit before you head out on vacation. This will help ensure that your cooling system is operating efficiently and potentially prevent any air conditioning water leaks while you’re away. Schedule your visit with Del-Air Heating and Air Conditioning now by calling 888-831-2665.
