Summer is well underway, and many homeowners are looking to go on an extended vacation. Before you leave, you should make sure that the HVAC equipment in your home is prepared to stay in shape while you’re gone.
Follow these tips to make sure it will all be working smoothly when you return:
Close Up
Make sure that all of your windows and doors are shut and locked up. It can be easy to overlook smaller, less frequently used windows in places like your bathroom or attic but they are just as important. Close up your ventilation shafts and skylights as well.
Get Leaks Repaired
Leaky pipes gone unchecked will allow water to accumulate and stagnate in your house while you’re gone. This can lead to the proliferation of mold, which not only can damage your home but also threaten your health once you return. Hire an HVAC specialist to inspect your home as they will know where to look and can identify danger signs that need to be fixed before you leave.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Many modern programmable thermostats have a pre-set “vacation” mode that you can set them to. This will use your HVAC system sparingly to make sure you aren’t wasting money to cool an unoccupied house. But by not turning it off entirely, you won’t have to be concerned about returning to a home that is swelteringly hot and uncomfortably humid.
If your home is not already equipped with one or more programmable thermostats, set the single thermostat at a higher-than-usual level, in the low 80s, in order to save on energy costs while making sure your home doesn’t get to hot or humid while you’re away.
Turn Off Water
You can do this from the main supply point. Find the main inside valve and shut it off. You also need to turn off the supply lines to the washing machine hoses.
Contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. for more strategies to protect your HVAC equipment while you’re away. We proudly serve the Dayton area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. To get started, check out our website or request an appointment.
