Many individuals may face a problem and that is what indoor temperature they should set before leaving their vacant house. This question may come to many homeowners' minds and another thing they think is whether they should leave their HVAC system turned on or off. In simple terms, yes people should leave their HVAC system turned on while leaving their vacant house. An HVAC system is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system which helps to control indoor temperature. This system not only controls temperature there are many other functions it performs also like air filtration, humidity control, etc.
If a vacant house is left with a turned-off HVAC system then there is the possibility that people face many indoor problems when they come to see the house. Problems like mold formation inside the HVAC system, poor air quality, damaged floor, etc. If individuals turn on their HVAC unit and do not set the temperature properly they may face problems like decreased energy efficiency. Individuals who are reading this blog will get every answer related to the temperature of a vacant house and some important tips to improve their HVAC system's energy efficiency before leaving their vacant house.
Best Temperature To Leave A Vacant House
As mentioned earlier, turning on an HVAC system while leaving a vacant house is essential for many things. However, it is important to know what temperature settings people should use while leaving their homes. By doing this, individuals can easily save money on their energy bills.
During Summer: During summertime, people should set their thermostat temperature setting between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for their vacant house. It is important to check the weather forecast before changing their thermostat settings. If the weather is going to be too hot then homeowners can set more lower temperatures. Remember, some places have higher temperatures than other areas, so decide your vacant house temperature according to that.
During Winter: In the winter season, individuals can set the temperature of their vacant house between 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit before leaving their vacant house. People can set their thermostat settings as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit when their vacant houses are situated in mild winter areas. The size of the house is an important factor that can impact the temperature settings. If the house is large then the temperature should be a little higher to prevent any problems with the pipelines.
Why You Should Keep HVAC System Turn On In Vacant House
Many people will think that turning on their HVAC system for their vacant house is a bad idea. They think that it will give them unnecessary energy bills. To prevent high energy bills they turn off their HVAC system which is their big mistake. This can cause problems like mold formation. Keeping the HVAC system turned on and adjusting its temperature settings according to a vacant house has many advantages. Here are some of the main advantages of keeping the HVAC system turned on in vacant houses:
1. Controls Level Of Indoor Humidity
HVAC systems not only control indoor environment temperature but can also control the level of indoor humidity. It is recommended to keep the humidity level between 30% and 50% while going away from the house. Increasing the level of humidity above 55% can cause mold formation which will decrease the quality of indoor air. In the summer season, a high level of humidity inside a vacant house can cause airborne pollutants like mold and dust mites. These pollutants are one of the reasons that causes allergies to many individuals. Due to this, controlling the humidity level of vacant houses is a very crucial thing.
2. Prevents Freezing Of Pipes
During the winter season, leaving a vacant house without turning on the HVAC system can cause problems like frozen pipes which can cause problems like bursting of pipes due to frozen water. This can happen if the outdoor temperature is too low which will impact the indoor temperature. One of the main advantages of turning on an HVAC system is that it will prevent the pipe from freezing. By preventing this issue, individuals don’t need to worry about replacing their water pipelines as a result they will save their hard-earned money also.
3. Prevents Damage To Electronics And Wooden Structures
In summer times, when the outdoor temperature is too high it can cause problems for wooden structures like flooring in a vacant house. Due to high temperatures, these things can expand and develop cracks, and this leads to unnecessary repairing of the floor. This can cause spending a lot of money. A running HVAC system helps to reduce the temperature which prevents this problem. This also helps to protect electronic appliances inside a vacant house that are sensitive to high indoor temperatures. During summer times, individuals must turn on their HVAC system before leaving their vacant house.
How To Increase Energy Efficiency When Leaving A Vacant House
Energy efficiency is very important when leaving a vacant house with a turned-on HVAC system. This helps to protect the house from many unnecessary problems including saving a lot of energy bills. Individuals can improve their vacant house’s energy efficiency by following essential tips. These tips are very easy to follow and anyone can use them before leaving their vacant house. Here are some important things that a vacant house owner can do to increase energy efficiency:
1. Inspect HVAC System
Before leaving a vacant house it is very important to inspect the HVAC system to improve energy efficiency. By doing yearly HVAC inspections, individuals can easily identify any problem with the system that can cause issues with its components. This will lead to a decrease in energy efficiency. Checking the air filters and the AC coils is one of the simplest HVAC inspections that anyone can do. If the HVAC system has some severe issues then taking the help of a professional is a wise choice. An HVAC expert will inspect thoroughly and will use specialized equipment to fix any issues.
2. Close Blinds And Shades
One of the important tips to enhance energy efficiency is to close the blinds and shades of a vacant house. By doing this simple tip, vacant house owners stop the outdoor air which can be hot or cold. Due to this, the problem of overheating during the summer season doesn’t occur and as a result, the HVAC system doesn’t need to work harder to maintain sufficient temperature. This not only improves energy efficiency but also enhances the ability of individuals to control their temperature. Install window awnings in their house which will help to reduce heat caused by sun rays.
3. Air Leaks Checking
Air leaks can become a problem for energy efficiency because it will not let the HVAC system to control indoor environment temperature properly of a vacant house. Too warm or cold air can enter inside a vacant house from air leaks. Because of this, the HVAC system will force its components to keep the required indoor temperature. This leads to more energy consumption and as a result electricity bills increase. It is important to check for any air leaks before leaving a vacant house. By doing this, the HVAC system can easily control the indoor temperature as a result energy efficiency improves.
4. Install Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are one of the best devices that help individuals to control their HVAC system from any place. It will help to change a vacant house’s temperature by using a smartphone. This means if the outdoor environment is too hot or cold then the individuals can easily change their vacant house temperature from anywhere. A smart thermostat allows its users to pre-program its temperature settings and due to this it can change temperature automatically according to the environment.
Conclusion
Controlling the temperature of a vacant house is very important because it can lead to many problems like poor air quality, damaged HVAC systems, freezing of water pipelines, etc. To fix this issue, turning on the HVAC system while leaving a vacant house is the best solution. Many people think that keeping the system turned off is a great idea because it saves energy bills but in reality, it causes more harm than benefit. In the long run, it is wise to turn on the HVAC system because it provides many long-term benefits. It helps to control indoor humidity levels, prevents damage to the electronics and floorings, etc.
By doing this, vacant house owners not only create a clean indoor environment of the house but also prevent some costly damage to the house during different seasons. Individuals can follow some other tips also to improve the energy efficiency of their vacant house. Closing blinds and shades, checking for air leaks, installing smart thermostats, etc. are some of the main tips that can help to improve the energy efficiency of a vacant house. Are you one of those people who are searching for an air filter for your HVAC system? Then Custom FIlters Direct is the right place for you. We provide high-quality and customized filters to our customers. To learn more about our services, contact us at (877) 556-2862 today!