When you’re getting ready for an exciting vacation, the state of your home’s air conditioning and heating systems might be the last thing on your mind. While your HVAC system is typically a very low-maintenance aspect of home ownership, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your home remains safe while you’re away. Here are seven ways to maintain your home’s heating and cooling systems while on vacation.
1. Set Your Manual Thermostat
In the winter, it is important to ensure that your home remains at 55 degrees at minimum. If it gets any colder than this, you risk the pipes freezing, which can cause significant damage. Typically, 60 is a safe temperature for your home when you’re away.
Many people believe that it’s fine to turn off the air conditioning completely when they’re away in the summer. However, keeping your home at 80 degrees is a good idea. High temperatures can damage electronics and allow humidity to fester, damaging walls and floors.
2. Better Yet, Set It and Forget it
Most people who’ve had a thermostat installed in the past decade or so have a programmable thermostat but still choose to operate it manually. However, if you whip out the user guide and spend a little time acquainting yourself with the device, you’ll see that the programmable features can save you a lot of time and money. Most thermostats have a “vacation mode” setting, ensuring that your heating and cooling system only kicks in when it needs to keep your home and your belongings safe from extreme temperatures.
3. Replace Your Filters
A clogged or dirty filter can cause many problems, and if you’re not home when one of these problems occurs, you risk causing some serious damage. To be on the safe side, replace your filters with new ones before you leave for your vacation. This will allow your system to blow air freely, ensuring no problems while you’re away.
4. Consider Booking a Maintenance Call Before You Go
If your HVAC system has been making any noises or seems not to be working at its maximum efficiency, consider booking a maintenance call before you leave for your vacation. These periodic checkups are a great idea to keep your system running efficiently. By booking the appointment before your vacation, you can rest assured that your system is in perfect working order while you’re not there to keep an eye on things.
5. Clean Up Around the Exterior Unit
Lawn and garden debris can create clogs and problems in the exterior part of your heating and cooling system. Before you leave for vacation, doing a little cleaning around the unit is a good idea. The area doesn’t need to be pristine, but you should ensure all leaves and grass clippings have been swept away.
6. Unplug Appliances and Electronics
Some appliances, such as your refrigerator, should be left plugged in while you’re away. However, unplug any electronics or appliances that you can before you leave. Anything that requires a substantial amount of electricity can actually contribute to the heat in your home, forcing your air conditioning system to work all the harder to keep your home cool. By unplugging these devices, your system won’t have to work as hard to cool an empty home.
7. Take Extra Precautions for Long Trips
Leaving your home completely unattended for a week or so is perfectly fine if you don’t have any pets or plants. However, if you’ll be gone for a month or more, asking a friend to check up on your home while you’re away is a good idea. Even if your system has been perfectly maintained, sometimes things go wrong. By ensuring someone is keeping an eye on things, you won’t have to worry about an unexpected glitch that could end up costing you a lot of money in repairs.
Call the Professionals
If you’d like to book that pre-vacation HVAC maintenance appointment, Waterbury Heating & Cooling, Inc. in Sioux Falls is available to help. We want to give you the peace of mind that your home is perfectly safe while you’re gone. We also offer various other HVAC services, including installation and repairs, and we’re available to help with your plumbing and electrical needs. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.
