The warm weather hits and one of the first things we start planning is our summer vacation. Before you pack your last bag and drive to the airport, be sure the thermostat is prepared to take care of your home while you are away. Here are some tips for making sure your energy bill isn’t as high as your sand castle.
Change your thermostat temperature. We don’t recommend turning your thermostat off completely, because you could potentially damage structural components in your home should it be too hot and humid. However, if you don’t have any pets in the house, we recommend leaving your thermostat at 90 degrees. This could result in a 32% savings on your electric bill. If you do have pets, contact your vet about safe temperatures for your animals.
Unplug everything. Lights and appliances from small to big, can be know as “energy vampires.” Simply turning something off does not save it from using electricity. Unplugging all of your appliances, except of course fridges and freezers, will not only save you on your energy bill, but save you potentially lost property by eliminating the chance of a fire hazard in your home while you are away.
Close your curtains. Keep the hot summer sun out and you can conserve a resting temperature in your home more easily. The sun pouring in your windows can heat up the air in your house and raise your home temperature a lot during the day. Give your AC an easy job this vacation and remember to close your blinds.
Use tech to your advantage. We mentioned the EcoBee3 in a previous blog, and it has one vital feature we find extremely useful for homeowners temporarily going away – it can sense when you are in your home and when you are away and temperature control with respect to that. If you don’t have the time to fiddle for the ideal temperature, invest in an EcoBee3 today and Afterglow technicians will be more than happy to help you install it.
Turn off your water main. A small water leak can cause lots of trouble. Consider turning off the main water valve to stop the water pressure from pushing on fixtures and toilets.
Don’t forget the water heater. It’s easy to get concerned with just the air temperature in your house. Don’t forget – no one will be having hot showers in your home while you’re away. Switch the circuit breaker on your water heater off, or turn your gas water heater on vacation or unplug it. When you come back, remember to turn your water to hot and let it run before switching these heaters back on to avoid damage to the units.
Regular Inspections. Most insurance companies require someone to come and look inside your house if you are away for a period of time. And document the visit!
The last thing you should be thinking about on vacation is what’s going on at home. Follow these simple steps so that you can easily leave your worries behind and enjoy your well-deserved break.
Contact Afterglow today to have your AC checked before you go away!