Are you planning to take a few days off work or an extended vacation? If so, it’s important to make sure your home is properly prepared while you’re away. It’s not uncommon for many people to think it’s a good idea to simply shut off their air conditioners during their absence. After all, what’s the point of running the air conditioning if you’re not there?
In reality, shutting off your AC unit completely could actually result in damage to your home. When your air conditioner is off, there’s no way to control condensation and humidity. This is especially true during the summer months. Surfaces such as door frames and wood floors will consequently begin to contract and expand as a result of the buildup of heat. A long period of excess humidity can also result in the growth of mildew and mold, which is something you certainly don’t want to return home to find.
The Best Temperature to Set Your Thermostat
The best way to combat this problem is to leave your air conditioning system running but adjust the temperature for your absence. Consider setting your AC unit to around 80 degrees, or even up to 85 degrees, while you’re away from home. This will be enough to keep air circulating while preventing a buildup of heat and humidity that could cause damage to your house’s finishes.
Additionally, keeping your air conditioner running is much more energy-efficient than turning it off and trying to cool off your home to your preferred temperature when you return. If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, you might consider investing in one. With a programmable thermostat, you can schedule temperature settings on your thermostat ahead of time. In fact, you can even control it from your smartphone.
Are you experiencing problems with your AC unit that you need to get checked out before going out of town? Give us a call at David White, Services Inc today. We handle everything from repair to maintenance. Our technicians will be happy to schedule a time to come out to your home in Athens, OH, or the surrounding area to check out your air conditioning system.
