If prepping for vacation feels stressful, you are not alone. According to an article in the New York Post, people surveyed do at least six tasks before they ever hit the road, and 31% reported taking at least half a day to relax fully from the preparations. One often overlooked task is figuring out what temperature to keep in the house when on vacation. Set your thermostat too high or too low, and you risk damaging your home or wasting energy while you are away. Let’s break it down with expert AC tips.
Strike the Right Balance
Even when you’re not home, maintaining a consistent indoor temperature is key to protecting your house from excessive humidity and extreme heat. High indoor temperatures allow humidity to build up, which can warp hardwood floors, damage furniture, and lead to mildew. It can also lower air quality, potentially triggering allergy or asthma symptoms once you return.
That said, there’s no need to cool your home to the same level you would while living in it. The goal is to conserve energy while avoiding extreme heat buildup.
Only increase your thermostat setting by two or three degrees from your normal temperature. For most households, that means adjusting from a typical 72°F up to 75°F or 76°F while you’re away. This small shift reduces electricity use without stressing your AC unit.
Avoid the Urge to Shut Off Your AC
Completely turning off your air conditioner may seem like a smart way to cut costs, but it can lead to expensive consequences. Without any climate control, your home can quickly overheat, especially during hot Indiana summers. That excess heat builds humidity and creates an ideal environment for mold and mildew. It can also cause wood floors to warp, electronics to degrade, and houseplants to wilt or die due to poor air circulation and moisture imbalances.
Even your refrigerator and freezer may have to work harder in an overheated home, increasing wear and tear on your appliances. The minor energy savings from shutting off your AC are rarely worth the potential cost of repairs or replacements.
Instead, set your thermostat a few degrees higher than normal and leave your system running. Keeping it on helps maintain air circulation, protects materials, and keeps indoor conditions safe while you are away.
Use Your Programmable Thermostat’s Built-In Vacation Settings
Today’s thermostats offer much more than simple temperature control. Many modern programmable and smart thermostats come with built-in vacation modes or custom scheduling features that allow you to pre-set your system to run efficiently while you are away. These settings help your HVAC system maintain safe indoor conditions without constantly cycling on and off, which can waste energy and wear down your equipment.
Vacation mode typically holds a steady temperature for multiple days, preventing unnecessary fluctuations and reducing runtime. You can schedule your thermostat to lower the temperature just before you get home so you return to a cool, comfortable house without wasting energy the entire time you’re gone.
Many newer models also offer an auto mode, which automatically switches between cooling and heating as needed to maintain a consistent temperature range. This is particularly helpful during spring or fall trips when temperatures can swing dramatically or if you’re traveling during early summer when the Indiana weather is still unpredictable.
Keep an Eye on Your Home Remotely
With a smart thermostat, you can make real-time adjustments from anywhere using your smartphone. App connectivity is ideal if your vacation plans change or if weather conditions back home shift unexpectedly.
Smart thermostats can also alert you to temperature or humidity changes, helping you catch issues early. Whether it’s a power outage, rising indoor temps, or an HVAC error code, Remote comfort control is a game-changer. Many state-of-the-art models also offer energy tracking features, which show how much energy your system uses daily or weekly, empowering you to adjust your habits and lower your monthly utility bill.
Keep Up With HVAC Maintenance
Whether you’re traveling for a weekend or several weeks, you don’t want to come home to a hot house and an HVAC system needing repair. Precision Comfort Systems helps homeowners across northern Greater Indianapolis maintain safe, efficient indoor environments year-round with periodic tune-ups.
Before your next trip, consider scheduling an AC tune-up or a professional thermostat upgrade. Our preventive maintenance services include checking refrigerant levels, inspecting electrical components, and confirming that your thermostat is properly calibrated to help ensure everything runs smoothly while you’re away.
Plan with Confidence
Your home should be one less thing to worry about when you head out of town. Knowing what temperature to keep in the house when on vacation helps prevent damage, reduce your energy bills, and keep everything just the way you left it when you return.
Call (317) 867-2665 or contact us online today. From thermostat upgrades to full system inspections, Precision Comfort Systems is here to keep your home cool, protected, and worry-free, no matter where your summer takes you.