Here Are Eight Ways to Prepare Your HVAC System Before a Vacation

The summer break is an opportunity to unwind and break away from the day to day. Prior to departure, ensure your home and HVAC are set for your absence. A bit of planning goes a long way toward avoiding expensive problems and ensuring a safe, comfortable home until you return. Here are eight useful tips to get your HVAC system ready before a vacation so your return home is seamless and worry-free.

1. Stay on Top of Routine HVAC Maintenance

A great way to help your HVAC system run smoothly is to set up a maintenance visit before your trip. A professional HVAC technician can check for signs of trouble, clean important parts, and resolve any issues found during the inspection. This preventive measure reduces the risk of unexpected problems and maintains system efficiency.

2. Clear Weeds and Yard Debris from the Outdoor Unit

Along with a technician’s inspection, you can do your part to improve efficiency by clearing out leaves, dirt or grass clippings around the outdoor unit of the HVAC system. Before heading to the airport, take a few minutes to rinse dirt and dust off and sweep debris about 3 feet away. This simple step can help protect operational efficiency and avoid any problems while the house is empty.

3. Make Sure Your Vents are Open and Unblocked

Obstructed vents cause uneven cooling and unnecessary strain on your HVAC system. To avoid this, ensure that all registers are open and not obstructed by large pieces of furniture, the carpet or curtains. This ensures steady airflow and stops any specific room of your home from feeling excessively hot or cold.

4. Use Energy-Efficient Settings for Your Thermostat

Tweaking your thermostat settings is an effective option to save energy and keep energy costs in check while you’re out of town. Set your thermostat around 85 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re about to leave to minimize cooling an empty house without allowing the interior to overheat.

If you want an easier time setting these schedules up, think about getting a smart thermostat before your vacation. A smart thermostat allows you to adjust the settings while you’re gone via a tablet or smartphone. You can fine-tune the settings based on the day’s weather and get automatic notifications if any trouble shows up.

To ensure a comfortable return, direct your smart thermostat to start cooling your home for at least a few hours before you’ve arrived. If you can’t access your thermostat remotely, reach out to a friend and ask them to set the temperatures while you’re gone. That way, you can walk into a comfortable home, while still minimizing energy waste for the duration of your trip.

5. Set Temperatures with Pets and Plants in Mind

If you have pets or even indoor plants that will be left at home while you are gone, keep them in mind when setting the thermostat’s schedule during your absence. The recommended 85°F can be excessive for them. Consider boarding any pets, or ask a friend or neighbor to look after them or water your plants. Write down a few guidelines for changing the temperature if needed.

6. Use Window Coverings Strategically

Sunlight coming through uncovered windows adds a lot of heat to your home, forcing your AC system to run much longer in the summer. Close the blinds, any curtains or even sunshades to block out more of that sunlight during the afternoon, avoiding the extra heat and lessening the strain on your HVAC.

7. Seal Leaks and Drafts

Examine the windows and doors for cracks or gaps before you leave. Closing up these leaks improves your home’s insulation efficiency and can help reduce the extra burden on your HVAC system. Easy solutions such as caulking stationary joints and adding weatherstripping seal windows and doors better. These easy jobs make a big difference in keeping indoor temperatures more consistent.

8. Make Sure Electronics Are Unplugged, and the Water Main Shut Off

To save even more energy and minimize the risk of electrical issues, unplug non-essential appliances and electronics before you leave. This includes things like TVs, computers, gaming devices and small kitchen appliances. Using surge protectors for these devices makes it much easier to turn off the electricity to everything all at once.

It’s also a good idea to shut off the main water valve or just the water supply to specific fixtures of your plumbing system using the valve on the wall nearby. This kind of precaution helps protect your home from water damage or broken pipes if you’re unable to catch them.

We Can Help You Get Ready for Vacation

Whether you’re looking forward to your dream vacation or just stepped inside to find the HVAC isn’t working, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We pride ourselves on delivering fast, long-lasting solutions to every one of your comfort problems.

Nothing matters more to our ACE-certified HVAC Experts than your comfort and complete satisfaction. If you need an HVAC tune-up before you leave town, please contact us to learn more. We’ll do whatever it takes to have a positive impact in your life and home comfort.