During summer, homeowners often leave their houses for their long-awaited vacation. As you’ll be out of home for a few days, you’ll have to plan how to manage certain equipment like your central air conditioner and other home appliances while you’re on a vacation. There are a number of factors to consider while making the right decision. For example, you’ll have to consider the length of the vacation and the climate. If energy and cost-efficiency are your primary concern, it’s better to turn off the whole HVAC unit. Otherwise, keep reading to know about how to manage your central air conditioner while on vacation.
3 Factors to Consider When Managing Your Air Conditioner Before Going on Vacation
1. Duration of the Vacation
The first thing you’ll have to consider is the duration of your vacation. Suppose your vacation is short, like 2 to 3 days. In that case, you can keep the air conditioner turned on and set the air conditioner thermostat at higher temperature.
If you set the air conditioner thermostat at a lower temperature then it’ll be a complete waste as there will be no one to enjoy the comfort and cooling that your air conditioner produces. Besides, when you lower the air conditioner, your air conditioner will have more wear and tear.
That’s why it’s recommended that you set the temperature 7 to 10 degrees higher than the regular temperature. Thus, your air conditioner will have less wear and tear and save more energy. Again, in this situation, a programmable thermostat can be very handy.
A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature at varying times, and it turns on and off the air conditioner automatically. As a result, your house temperature always stays at a certain level.
But if you’re going for a long vacation then it’s better to turn off your air conditioner. And if you have a programmable thermostat, you can turn on your air conditioner the day before you arrive. As a result, your house will be cool, and you won’t have to suffer from the heat when you arrive.
If you want to reduce strain from your air conditioner, you can close the curtains of your windows before leaving. This will block the afternoon heat from entering your space, and your house will be cooler.
For more information about a programable thermostat, click here.
2. Weather
After considering the duration of the vacation, you’ll have to consider the weather. Before going out to the vacation, check the weather forecast. If you see the weather is mild then it’s better to turn off the air conditioner. On the other hand, if you see that the weather is scorching temperature then you’ll have to keep your air conditioner turn on. By doing this, you can keep your house at a relatively comfortable temperature.
Again, if you have a pet in your house, it’s better to keep the temperature below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Above this temperature, your pets will start to feel uncomfortable and can become sick.
3. The efficiency of Your House
Your home efficiency also has a key factor to play while choosing whether you should keep your air conditioner on or off. Home efficiency includes insulation, efficient windows, and low air infiltration.
If your house has proper insulation then outside hot air won’t be able to enter your house. But if you have poor insulation then outside hot air, filled with dust will enter your home and make your home unlivable. That’s why before going out for a vacation, check the insulation of your house. If you find any holes, fix it as soon as possible.
Even if you’re not going for a vacation and you found holes in your house, you should fix it without any delay.
When your house has poor insulation, it’ll reduce the overall efficiency of your air conditioner. Also, you won’t get the desired cooling from your air conditioner.
Also, don’t forget to check the windows of your house. Seal all the windows and check whether there’s any hole in the window. If you find any then fix it before leaving for vacation.
While checking the insulation of your house, you can take help from an HVAC professional. It’s always better to seek help from a professional.
See the summary of this content here in the infographic – 3 Factors to Consider When Managing AC Before Going on Vacation [Infographic]
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