Heating your home takes up a significant portion of your monthly utilities. Whether you’ll be gone for the day at work or you’re going on a several-day vacation, you may be wondering, “Should I leave heat on when away?” In general, the answer is yes.
It’s best to leave your heat on despite the high costs, but you can still save money. Depending on your home’s specifics, you may significantly benefit from alternative solutions such as reducing the heat if you can’t turn it off. At SM Mechanical Services, LLC, our Newington HVAC company details the various factors to consider.
Benefits of Leaving the Heat On
Turning the heat off altogether may seem like a brilliant idea, but cold temperatures can lead to brutal consequences. While the apparent disadvantages are the energy costs, leaving the heat on when away offers two main benefits:
- Keeping the house warm for pets and people
- Preventing damage to plumbing and the rest of your home
Avoid Collateral Damage
The last thing you want is to come home to plumbing problems in the winter. As pipes to your toilet, sink, and shower get colder, the water inside them freezes and expands. When it melts, the water expands significantly, putting strain and pressure on pipe walls and causing leaks or burst pipes.
Connecticut’s frigid winters can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, even with pipe insulation. You put your pipes at risk of freezing by shutting your furnace off. Leaving the heat on ensures your lines stay warm enough to avoid frozen pipes.
Keep Pets Warm
If you’re a pet owner, you likely want your pets to be calm and cozy while you’re away. The more time your furnace is off, the more warm air leaks outside. Leaving the heat on will ensure your pets have a comfortable temperature indoors.
By leaving the heat on, you can avoid these issues. Are you wondering, “What temperature should I leave heat on when away?” Temperatures 55 degrees and higher will keep your pipes from freezing or bursting and keep pets comfortable. The only downside is returning to a colder home than usual.
Reasons to Leave the Heat Down
You should never turn your heat completely off in the winter, as you’ll risk sustaining plumbing damage and uncomfortable temperatures for your pets. Leaving your heat down has clear advantages, from saving money to a longer-lasting heating system.
Reasons to leave the heat down include:
- Higher energy savings
- Lower utility bill
- Fewer repairs
- Better longevity
More Energy Savings
Homeowners looking to reduce their environmental footprint and get excellent savings should turn down their thermostats. Turning the heat down before you leave or keeping it lower while you’re awake will improve your energy usage. Reach yearly savings up to 10% by reducing your heat significantly.
If you are only gone for the day, you don’t have to turn your heating system off. Instead, reducing the temperature will implement energy savings. Turn your thermostat down seven to ten degrees during the winter for lower energy consumption.
Lower Bills
The most significant benefit of turning your heat down is the greatly reduced energy bills. When energy savings increase, utility bills decrease, meaning you’ll save more each month by running your heat less.
You can apply the same concept to your air conditioning system. Raising the temperature several degrees will be uncomfortable to come home to, but you’ll save extra when fighting sweltering weather.
Fewer Repair Needs
“Should I leave heat on when away?” Another reason HVAC professionals encourage lower temperatures is because your system will have fewer mechanical problems.
As years go by, your heating system no longer runs as efficiently as it once did and may need repairs. With reduced operation time, your heating system endures less strain. When combined with regular maintenance, this may result in fewer repair needs.
Improved Longevity
While turning your system off doesn’t always cause severe wear and tear after turning it on again, the more your unit runs, the shorter its lifespan will be. Improve your unit’s longevity by turning your thermostat down during cold weather and up in the summer.
Lower Thermostat Settings
Are you still wondering, “Should I leave the heat on when away?” Turning the thermostat down is the way to go no matter how long you’ll be gone.
By setting your thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees before leaving for vacation, you’ll avoid plumbing problems and save money. Pet owners should set the temperature to around four degrees less than usual to keep pets comfortable.
Run your thermostat low during the day and night. Decreasing the temperature by ten to 15 degrees at night will bring incredible savings and allow you to use multiple blankets comfortably.
Use Alternative Heating Solutions
Alternative heating solutions like a smart thermostat will help you save money while gone and ensure you’ll still come home to a warm house. Consider installing one to balance home comfort and savings.
Smart thermostats develop a schedule based on your daily patterns and even allow remote operation. They make it easy to leave your home and pets unattended yet comfortable.
Heating Services
SM Mechanical Services, LLC, is a high-quality HVAC services provider for Glastonbury residents and beyond. Almost 15 years of experience give our team the expertise you need. Whether you need advice on thermostat settings or need a heating inspection and repair, we can help.
As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service, quality repairs, installations, and more. Our trained professionals can answer, “Should I leave heat on when away?” and other questions you may have.
For more information on how to increase heating bill savings, speak to the experts at SM Mechanical Services, LLC, in Glastonbury, CT. We offer free estimates and consultations to review your heating and cooling needs. Contact our team for all your HVAC needs today at 860-296-5100.