Should You Turn Off Your AC When You Go on Vacation?
When you’re getting ready to go on vacation, you might wonder if you should turn off your air conditioner while you’re gone. It might seem like a good way to save money on your energy bill, but turning it off completely isn’t always the best idea. Whether you should leave it on or off depends on a few things such as how long you’ll be gone, how hot it gets where you live, what kind of home you have, and what you’re leaving behind inside. Consulting with a local service provider such as Comfort Caddies will give you more peace of mind.
If you live somewhere hot and humid such as SWFL, shutting off your AC can cause more problems than it solves. When your house gets too warm and sticky, it can lead to damage. Wood floors or furniture might warp or crack, electronics can overheat, and mold can grow from the moisture in the air. If you have things like artwork, musical instruments, or important papers, they might also get damaged. Instead of turning your AC off all the way, it’s better to turn it up to 78-85 degrees. This helps your home stay cool enough to prevent problems, but still saves you some energy.
You also have to think about whether you’re leaving behind pets or plants. Most pets and indoor plants don’t do well in very hot homes. If a pet sitter is coming by, you’ll want to make sure your house stays at a safe temperature. That’s another reason why turning your AC completely off may not be the best choice. It might save you money on the power bill, but the cost of replacing damaged things or risking the health of a pet could be much higher. However, if you live somewhere that’s dry and not super hot, and you’re only going to be gone for a few days, turning off the AC might not be a big deal. If your home doesn’t get too hot or stuffy, things will probably be fine. But if your house gets a lot of sun or isn’t well insulated, the inside could still heat up fast. In those cases, it’s usually better to just turn the thermostat up, not off.
If you have a smart thermostat, that can help a lot. These devices let you control your AC from your phone. You can set the temperature to go up while you’re gone and have it cool back down before you get home. This way, you’re saving energy but still keeping your home safe from heat and humidity problems. You should also think about your AC system itself. If it’s old or not working great, you might want to shut it off while you’re gone just in case. But if it usually runs fine, letting it stay on at a higher setting can actually help keep the system in better shape. Keeping some air moving through the house also helps avoid that stale, musty smell that can build up in closed up homes.
Basically, turning off your AC while you’re on vacation isn’t always the smartest move. It depends on where you live and what you’re leaving behind. A good middle ground is turning the thermostat up to save energy but still protect your home. With smart thermostats and a little planning, you can save money and avoid coming back to problems caused by too much heat or moisture. If you have any questions about this, please call Comfort Caddies today and speak with one of our professionals.