Should I Leave My Air on While on Vacation?

Leave it on. it may get humid while you are away and you risk mildew/mold production. air needs to move around your house. You don't want to come back to a closed-up with young children house You can turn it up to 78 or 79 degrees and that will keep it cool, though not cold. J. Gordon

It would be a good idea to leave it on but at a higher temp. If you turn it off it could cause more damage to your home and the floors. I would leave it around 78 while you are gone!!

When we go on vacation, I leave it on, but turn it up a bit. Maybe 75 or 80? (yes, ours is up when it's 75...and that's only when we are gone. lol)

Yes!! For as hot as it gets down here, I would. We do when we are gone even for the weekend camping. Turn it to 78 or 80 while you are gone. It wont' keep the house as cool as you would like while you are there but it will keep the house from over heating. Especially if you have any indoor pets or fish.

S.

Definatley leave it on. If you are trying to save money just turn it up to 79- 80 and leave it there. Also you could turn off the breaker in your electric panel for you hot water heater. Thats a money saver!!

Hello~ We travel a lot and never turn ours off. However, we just raise it a little. Obviously, the top
less than the main level. It's always worked for us.

We have a rental property in FL and when it doesn't have a tenant we keep the air at 82. It's a digital thermometer that can be programmed by day and time. It's best so that the house doesn't over heat...for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus, when you return it'll use less energy to cool it back down from 82 rather than from 90 or whatever you think it may reach.

We turn ours off and we haven't had any problems with warped floors or mold and mildew. Yes, it is warm in the house however, it is isn't so hot it is unbearable. We left for two weeks last July and had no problems what so ever. Just make sure all your blinds and curtains are closed. Your house isn't going to get that hot especially right now with the cooler weather!

Good Luck

B. M.

When we go on vacation, we don't usually turn it off. We do, however, turn it to a higher temp so it isn't running as often. If you turn it completely off, it can cause a power surge when you first turn it on (resulting in even higher power costs than leaving it running).

I'd leave it on--it gets so hot and humid here, you could be asking for trouble if you turn it on. I'm thinking more along the lines of mold growth, rather than warped floors. Just turn it down a bit, to 78 or 80. If you have pets that are staying at home with a pet sitter, leave it a bit lower. Have a great trip!

I would set the temp at a higher level like 80 or 85 Or just run the fan

I don't think I would leave at the same setting that you would have it if you were at home. I usually turn mine down so it will not come on as often. If your blinds and curtains are closed it will stay cooler. I turn mine up to about 80 (which is about what we keep it at anyway). I've heard if you turn it off and it get really hot, then your AC has to work extra harder to cool it off which could run up your bill and defeat the purpose.

I work at an electric utility and they have always told us to turn your central air system up several degrees to save while on vacation, but do not turn it off. The unit will have to do double time to cool everything back down, and your refrigerator and freezers will have to work more during the time you are gone. Another thing to consider is your electric water heater? They suggest turning your water heater temperature down while away, again not off but atleast down considerably. only if you are going to be away for an extended vacation of more than a week you may want to then turn the water heater off.

Sawnee Electric's tips on vacation settings suggests that you set your temp at 85, turn your water heater temp to the vacation setting or lowest setting. Someone else mentioned turning your water off under sinks to avoid any leaks...this is a little more than you asked for but all good tips! Enjoy your vacation.