Summer Vacation? Tips For Keeping Your Air Conditioning Safe While You're Away

Posted on: 7 August 2016

Top HVAC Summer Vacation Tips

Vacationing is an event everyone in the family looks forward to, especially children when school is out for the summer months. Proper HVAC maintenance and following these guidelines will ensure you that your home will be comfortably cool when you return from your vacation adventures.

Provide Surge Protection

With summertime comes the chances of electrical storms. You want to be sure you have a surge protector on your air conditioning unit in case of a bad storm or a power surge.

Close the Blinds and Curtains

Closing window coverings is also excellent to prevent the sunlight and heat from entering your unoccupied spaces.

Raise the Thermostat

While you are away from home, there is not any reason to have the home's air conditioning unit constantly running to keep the home super cold. It is ideal to set the thermostat between 76 to 78 degrees to save money on the power bill.

Program the Thermostat

If you have a programmable thermostat, you can program it to a cooler temperature on the day before you are to return home. One specialist stated you should set the temperature approximately four degrees higher than normal conditions.

Check the Vents and Air Filter

You want to get the most use out of your air conditioner during the hot days of summer, and making sure the air filter is clean and clear is the best way to be sure the unit is circulating as it should be at all times. Also, make sure all of the vents are clear and unobstructed from furniture or other items.

Check the Outside Unit

You want to be sure no limbs or other debris are in the way of the outside unit. It is recommended to have branches cleared from six to ten feet from the ground level. For safety, new trees should not be planted for a minimum of thirty feet from the home. The trees are beneficial to keep the direct sunlight away, but you must remain diligent to keep the air circulation flowing around the air conditioning unit.

No one wants to end a fun family vacation by returning home to a hot, humid, and musty home. If you have your air conditioning unit inspected prior to your vacation and follow these tips, you should have a cool and comfortable home to return to. Talk to an AC repair technician for more tips.

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