It’s finally time for that much-needed vacation. Your bags are packed, your itinerary is set, and you’re ready to leave your daily responsibilities behind. But just as you’re about to walk out the door, you pause and ask yourself: “Should I turn off the AC when I’m on vacation?”
It’s a common question for homeowners during the hot summer months. While turning off the air conditioner might seem like a good way to save money, it’s not always the smartest choice. Let’s explore when it makes sense to turn off the AC—and when it doesn’t.
The Case Against Turning Off Your AC
Turning your AC off entirely while you’re away may seem like a great way to cut energy costs. But during high heat, it can actually cause more problems than it solves.
When you shut down your AC in the middle of a heatwave, your home can reach extremely high indoor temperatures. This heat can damage electronics, warp wood furniture or flooring, and even cause problems with your refrigerator working harder to keep food cold. Humidity is another big concern. Without climate control, moisture can build up inside the home, potentially leading to mold growth or musty smells.
The bottom line? It may make sense to turn off your AC if you’re gone for more than a couple of days and it’s not extremely hot out. On the other hand, if you’re only gone for a couple of days, the energy it takes to cool the home back down when you return could cancel out any savings from turning it off. Instead, it may be better to simply turn the temperature up 7 to 10 degrees on your thermostat.
A Smarter Solution: Turn the Thermostat Up
Instead of turning the AC completely off, simply raise the temperature on your thermostat. Setting it to around 85 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re away still helps reduce energy usage without putting your home at risk.
If you have a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat, you can schedule the temperature to return to a comfortable level a few hours before you get back. That way, you save money while still walking into a cool home.
Other Vacation Tips to Save Energy
If you’re looking for even more ways to save energy this summer, here are a few easy suggestions:
- Close blinds and curtains to keep out the heat from the sun.
- Unplug small appliances and electronics that draw standby power.
- Seal doors and windows to prevent hot air from entering.
These simple steps, combined with adjusting your thermostat, can help reduce your energy bill while keeping your home protected.
When You Should Turn Off the AC
There are some cases where turning off the AC makes sense, like if you’re going away for weeks and no one will be entering the home. In these cases, make sure to take additional steps like removing perishable food and setting up ventilation if needed.
Still, for most short trips, adjusting the temperature is a safer and more efficient choice than shutting your system down entirely.
Final Thoughts
So, should you turn off the AC when on vacation? In most cases, the answer is no. Raising the thermostat is usually the best way to save energy while protecting your home from excessive heat and humidity.
Dealing with inefficient air conditioning? Need help upgrading to a new AC system for the summer heat? At NextGen Mechanical, we’re here to make your HVAC decisions simple and stress-free. Call us today at (224) 539-6895 for help keeping your home cool, comfortable, and efficient.
