Whether you are leaving for a few days or a few weeks, you’ll likely be wondering whether your heating and cooling system should be left on. It may seem a waste to run your air conditioning while away on a summer vacation, but there are some important factors to consider. Weigh the pros and cons of each option to decide what to do.

Reasons to Leave It On

When you come home from a long day of traveling at the end of your vacation, you’ll likely want to walk into a comfortable home. Keeping your system running will ensure you come back to a home you want to walk into since it will be kept at a comfortable temperature. You can always save energy by turning your thermostat five to ten degrees higher than you normally would.

If you have pets that will be staying at home while you’re away, this also ensures they are kept comfortable. In the middle of summer or winter, the home could get to dangerous temperature extremes that could affect your pets if they don’t have climate control.

Reasons to Turn It Off

Heating and cooling consume a lot of energy, so you likely don’t want to pay to run that system while there’s no one there to enjoy the temperature. If you’ll be gone for longer than a week and leaving behind an empty home, it may be worth it to turn off your system to avoid unnecessary energy usage.

If you check the weather forecast and find that temperatures will be relatively mild, you can turn off your system. This leaves you with a minimal risk of heat building up in the house. You can simply close all your curtains to keep out sunlight, which would heat up the home.

Before leaving on vacation, have your heating and cooling system serviced by an HVAC contractor. The team at Philip Perkins Heating & Air Conditioning can boost your system efficiency and improve your indoor air quality in Middletown, OH. They have been the trusted family-owned residential and commercial HVAC business in the area for almost 30 years due to their integrity and top-notch workmanship. Contact them online or at (513) 423-7052 to schedule an appointment.