As relaxing as vacations are, you may have some valid concerns about your empty home. Here are a few simple steps to prepare your home that can help you leave for your winter holiday without a care in the world.
- Using a programmable thermostat makes it convenient to remotely check on the temperature in your house. You can make any necessary adjustments to the settings on your HVAC system by using a smartphone or via the Internet.
- Temperatures below freezing make it unsafe to turn the thermostat completely off. Setting the thermostat on your HVAC system to 50 degrees will still save you money without risking frozen pipes and flooding.
- Many people are unaware that appliances still draw power while turned off. Prepare your home by unplugging appliances and large electronic devices while you are out of town.
- Prepare your home to use as little electricity as possible while you are out of town. Set your refrigerator to 42 degrees and freezer to 5 degrees to save money, but still minimize the chances of returning home to spoiled food. Throwing out or giving away perishables and unplugging your refrigerator before an extended winter holiday will save even more.
- During your winter holiday, change the water heater to its “vacation” setting. This low temperature will prevent water in the lines and tank from freezing and causing damage, but won’t keep hot water at the ready that will not be used.
If you need help to prepare your home for a winter vacation or for the winter in general, call us at Cox Air Conditioning & Heating. Our HVAC system experts have been keeping Pinellas County and the surrounding areas comfortable since 1958.
