When you go on vacation in the summer, there isn’t a fear of your heating system failing. During the winter, your thermostat needs to be set to a specific temperature, or you could risk your pipes bursting while you’re on vacation. Having a smart furnace that has an app attached to your phone will give you peace of mind when you’re thousands of miles away from home.

What Happens If You Don’t Set Your Thermostat

Furnace malfunctions are common, but you could come home to a cold house and burst pipes if this happens when you’re on vacation. Once your house gets colder than 40° Fahrenheit, your pipes are at risk of bursting, causing thousands of dollars in damage to your home and furnace damage.

How to Set Your Smart Thermostat

Many comfort control thermostats have an app that lets you see and set the temperature of your home while on vacation. It’s better to prepare your home before you go on vacation in case any problems occur. The way you set your thermostat will vary depending on the model; decide whether you want to save money on your energy bill or make your home warmer. This will give you time to call a technician in case something goes wrong.

Temperature for Winter Months

You should set your thermostat to no lower than 60° Fahrenheit when you’re on vacation, so you have a buffer in case your furnace stops producing heat. If you know you have uninsulated or older pipes, keep your home warmer — around 65° Fahrenheit. Anything lower than 60° Fahrenheit could damage your heating equipment; the damage becomes almost irreversible past 40° Fahrenheit.

Override Thermostat

When you leave for vacation, you can override most modern thermostats, so they operate at a different schedule than average. Keep a temperature that stays constant during the day and night; this will take away stress from your pipes. To set a modified schedule on most thermostats, press “hold.” This ensures the temperature will remain the same until you return from vacation. When you come back, click the “run” button. Now, your thermostat is back to its regular schedule.

Ensure your house stays warm during your vacation by contacting the HVAC professionals at Charcool Heating & Cooling Inc in the Milledgeville and Lake County, GA, areas. This family-operated and -owned business has provided personal cooling and heating systems since 2002 while providing 24-hour emergency service. With their wide range of brand — including Carrier®, Lennox®, Bryant®, Frigidaire®, and Trane — they will ensure you aren’t cold this holiday season. Visit them online to learn more about their quality services, or call them at (478) 452-9554 to schedule a maintenance appointment.