What Should I Set My AC to When on Vacation?

Summer is the most popular time of year to travel. The kids are out of school, you’ve saved up vacation time at work, and warm weather means you don’t have to worry about ice on the roads.

Whether you’re visiting the Grand Canyon with your family, escaping the heat with a vacation to Vancouver, or enjoying a lakeside family reunion, don’t forget to prepare your home before you leave. One of the most important things is to set your air conditioning unit correctly.

Call Rick’s Heating and Cooling at (513) 899-6005 or contact us online for air conditioning and thermostat services in the Cincinnati, OH, area.

Ideal Air Conditioner Settings When on Vacation

Set your thermostat between 80 and 85 degrees when you go out of town. You might be tempted to turn off the air conditioner completely, but simply raising it a few degrees is a better idea. Here’s why.

Avoid Harmful Heat & Humidity

Any food and medicine you store in your cupboards could suffer from the triple-digit temperatures and high humidity that could build up if you shut off the thermostat completely. Wood floors, furniture, and wallpaper can also be damaged by expanding, buckling, or peeling.

Mold growth can even set in if the humidity level rises high enough. In short, your home will thank you if you set the thermostat no higher than 85 degrees while on vacation.

Keep Your Pets Comfortable

Are you hiring a pet sitter to avoid boarding your dog or cat? If your pet is staying home, make sure they stay comfortable by setting the thermostat no higher than 80 degrees.

3 Tips for Using a Programmable Thermostat

If you recently installed a programmable thermostat, you probably realize how useful it is for cutting energy costs while you’re at work all day. But did you know you can also program your thermostat for vacations?

• Look for the “permanent hold” or “vacation” setting. Unlike the temporary hold, this keeps the thermostat at the temperature you choose until you manually resume the regularly programmed schedule.
• Depending on how long you’re away and the type of thermostat you have, you may be able to program a comfortable temperature to resume a few hours before you’re due to return home.
• If you have a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat, you can make the adjustment on your smartphone at the right time, maximizing energy savings while ensuring you return to a comfortable home.

Call Rick’s Heating and Cooling at (513) 899-6005 or contact us online for personalized help and thermostat services in the Cincinnati, OH, area.

Other Ways To Prepare Your Home Before a Vacation

Setting the temperature just right is important for saving energy without damaging your home while you’re gone. Here are some other measures you can take to keep your home safe in your absence:

• Close and lock all windows and doors.
• Arrange a house sitter to water your plants, care for your pet, and check the mail. If you’re not leaving any living things behind, you can also put a temporary stop on your mail.
• Unplug electronics and turn off power strips to avoid unnecessary energy drainage.
• Put a living room lamp on a timer to make it look like someone’s home in the evenings.
• Turn off the water behind the washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, and toilets to prevent an untimely plumbing leak.
• Throw out any perishable food that will expire while you’re out of town.

Contact us today or call (513) 899-6005 to schedule the cooling services you need.

Schedule Cooling Services with Rick’s Heating & Cooling

After you return from your fun-filled vacation, choose Rick’s Heating & Cooling for air conditioning services in Morrow, OH. We offer AC installation, AC replacement, AC repair, and AC maintenance.

We also install programmable thermostats if you want to make this energy-saving upgrade in your home.