Try These Eight Tips to Set the HVAC System for Vacation

The summer break is the perfect chance to relax and take a much-needed rest from the everyday hustle. But before you leave, ensure that the house and HVAC are set for while you’re gone. A bit of planning goes a long way toward avoiding costly damage and ensuring a safe, comfortable home until you return. Try these eight practical tips to get your HVAC system ready for vacation so your return home is seamless and trouble-free.

1. Stay on Top of Routine HVAC Maintenance

A great way to ensure your HVAC runs efficiently is to request a maintenance visit leading up to your trip. A professional HVAC technician can check for signs of trouble, clean important parts, and fix any problems they find. This forward-thinking strategy minimizes the chance of unexpected problems and maintains system efficiency.

2. Clean the Area Around the Outdoor Unit

Along with a qualified maintenance visit, you can do your part to improve efficiency by clearing out leaves, rocks or grass clippings around the outdoor unit of the HVAC system. Ahead of your trip, spend some time to hose down the unit and sweep debris about 3 feet away. This simple step prevents yard waste from impacting system efficiency and avoid any problems while you’re away.

3. Check that Your Vents are Unobstructed

Obstructed vents cause uneven cooling and excess strain on your HVAC system. Before you leave, ensure that all the ventilation registers are fully opened and not blocked by furniture, the carpet or curtains. This maintains proper air circulation and stops any portion of your home from becoming excessively hot or cold.

4. Use Energy-Efficient Settings for Your Thermostat

Adjusting your thermostat is an easy way to save energy and keep energy costs in check while out and about. Set your thermostat around 85 degrees Fahrenheit when on summer vacation to reduce energy waste without overheating your home.

For even more benefits, look into adding a smart thermostat before your vacation. A smart thermostat enables you to manage the settings as long as you have an internet connection via a tablet or smartphone. You can modify any schedules based on the day’s weather and be alerted right away if any problems happen.

To guarantee a pleasant return home, access and adjust your smart thermostat to start the AC for a while before you get home. If you haven’t installed a smart thermostat yet, ask a neighbor to set the temperatures while you’re gone. With their help, you can come back to a comfortable home, even after cutting down on energy costs for however long you’re gone.

5. Plan for Your Pets and Plants

If you have cats, dogs or even just one or two houseplants that stay at home while you’re on vacation, take them into account when adjusting the temperature during your absence. The recommended 85 degrees F can be uncomfortable for them. Board your pets if you can, or get a friend or neighbor to take care of them and tend to your plants. Offer some directions on paper for adjusting the thermostat if you need to.

6. Use Window Coverings Strategically

Sunlight streaming through open windows raises the temperature inside, forcing your air conditioner to work much longer and harder in the summer. Draw the blinds, any drapes or even sunshades to avoid extra heat in your home during the mid to late afternoon, avoiding the extra heat and easing the burden on your cooling.

7. Close Gaps and Drafts

Examine the windows and doors for drafts before heading out. Closing up these leaks improves your home’s insulation efficiency and lowers some of the strain on the HVAC. Easy solutions like caulking fixed joints and using weatherstripping tighten up the window and door seals. These steps can have a significant impact in ensuring consistent temperatures while you’re gone.

8. Turn Off Electrical Devices and the Water Supply

To conserve additional energy and avoid any electrical problems, unplug the appliances and other electronics you won’t use before you leave. This should include things like TVs, laptops, gaming consoles and small kitchen appliances. Using surge protectors for these devices makes it a breeze to turn off the electricity to them all simultaneously.

You might also want to close the valve for your water main or just the water supply to specific parts of the plumbing using the valve on the wall closest to them. This proactive step helps protect your home from potential leaks and major water damage if you’re unable to get to them in time.

Ensure a Relaxing Vacation with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

No matter if you’re eagerly awaiting your dream vacation or just returned to find your HVAC system not working, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We take pride in providing quick yet lasting repairs to any and all your comfort problems.

Nothing is more important to our ACE-certified technicians than your comfort and complete satisfaction. If you ready for an air conditioning checkup before you leave town, please contact us to learn more. We’re here to have a positive impact in your life and home comfort.