Summer is an exciting time of year – and for many of us, it’s a time to pack our bags and head out of town for some R & R.
If you’re going to take some time away, it’s important to have a plan to take care of your home cooling system while you’re gone.
One way to keep some control over how your house operates in your absence is with a programmable thermostat. What you’re looking for is a thermostat setting that balances keeping your house cool enough to avoid problems with spending as little as possible to cool a home that no one is around to enjoy.
Here’s a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Energy: when you’re away from home for more than three days, maintain a maximum temperature of 85 degrees on your thermostat.
This allows the air conditioning to turn on infrequently, if at all, but prevents the house from getting too hot and forcing your refrigerator to work harder.
Some people turn their central A/C off when they go away, but it forces the air conditioning system to work much harder to get the house cool, as the people who do this often crank up the A/C as soon as they get home. But with programmable thermostats, you can have the air conditioning kick on a few hours before your return so the house will be comfortable when you arrive.
Don’t have a programmable thermostat? We can help! Contact PGagnon & Sons for a FREE estimate today!