Should You Leave the AC on When You Leave for Vacation?

It may seem logical to shut off your system before leaving home for a summer vacation, but there’s a reason why most HVAC companies advise against it. It’s a myth that turning off the system will lower your monthly energy bills. In fact, the opposite may happen instead, resulting in higher energy consumption.

AC

Why It’s Not Advisable to Turn Off Your AC System

Keeping your AC system running while your home is empty may not make sense, but you have to consider the typical summer weather pattern. On a hot summer day, soaring outdoor temperatures mean your home will quickly accumulate heat inside. Excessive humidity is also part of summer weather and can cause damage as it builds up within your home’s interior.

Excess humidity won’t usually be a problem with the AC system running — not only does the AC unit keep your home cool, it also helps regulate indoor humidity levels. Turning it off for weeks, however, will cause indoor humidity levels to rise. In turn, mold and fungus may grow and spread. This can also invite dust mites to flourish.

Things to Keep in Mind This Summer

For heating and air conditioning companies, the indoor temperature setting should be no higher than 84 degrees while you’re away on vacation. This is typically recommended if summer temperatures are in the 90s. As a guide, consider adding five degrees to your usual setting when you’re at home. For instance, if your thermostat is normally set to 72 degrees, consider increasing it to 77 when away from home.

Did you know you can improve your home’s energy efficiency even when leaving your AC system on while on vacation? The best way to ensure efficiency is to check your windows and doors for signs of drafts and air leaks, and ensure that they’re shut properly. Sealing them helps prevent cool air from escaping your home while keeping your monthly utility bills low. Use your curtains and window shades as well to prevent sunlight and heat from getting into your home.

For your HVAC needs this summer and beyond, turn to Stone Heating and Air, Inc., one of the leading home AC and heating companies in the area. Give us a call at (541) 855-5521 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

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We had our AC go out on one of the hottest days of the year. We called as soon as they opened and they came out so quickly and offered us some loaner units to keep our babies and animals cool in the meantime. Matt was so helpful and fixed the problem quickly. He went above and beyond to help us and we will be using Stone Heating and Air to replace our unit when it’s time. They’ll be our first call in the future!

Elizabeth T.

Matt's response was extremely quick, he was very professional and friendly. He explained everything in detail and was very knowledgeable. He had my unit up and running within no time! I highly recommend calling stone heating and air. I will be signing up for the yearly service plan with them!!

Tim S.

I had a wonderful experience to hangout with this superior crewmen who came to install a new HVAC system at my house. To see these professional guys were at work with their best, I would recommend to anyone to do business with this wonderful company! Best regards

Bryan H.

I’ve used Stone Heat and Air for several projects and every time they have preformed beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend them for any of your HVAC needs.

Matthew V.S.

Excellent Service I could not have been more happy with the service, quality and honesty that I received from Stone Heating and Air. I will refer this HVAC company to all of my friends.

Gene S

Great Service, knowledgeable service technician This was for our guest house heater. I was very happy with the service provided. They were on time, polite and clean. They inspected the Monitor heater and then proceeded to clean it and they were able to fix that. Will definitely use for jobs in the future

Amanda S

Maintenance Great service, and great price

Mike J.

Great Company Dave was fantastic. He is very knowledgeable about the system and his cleaning job was incredible. He was able to explain everything that he was doing and make it make sense for general homeowner. Good Job guys!

Brian F

Excellent service! Excellent service! Knowledgeable staff! I was very impressed with the responsiveness and knowledge of your team. Shortly after 1 called for an appointment, Dave and Gino did a thorough inspection of my system and explained all of the areas that needed repair or replacement. They gave me short and long-term options and the benefits of both. HVAC is not something I know a lot about so I had appreciated their patience. Overall, it was a great experience! 5 STARS!! Highly recommend Stone Heating and Air!

John L

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