Planning a fun getaway soon? Before the trip starts, it’s important that all homeowners prep their homes. Part of this prep should include getting their air conditioners ready. Learn what you should do with your AC before you leave and how to get your system vacation-ready.

To Turn Off or Leave On?

When going on vacation, most homeowners find themselves facing a dilemma; do they turn their AC off or leave it on? For short trips, the best course of action is to leave the AC on, but set to a higher temperature. While it may seem silly to leave the air conditioning on with an empty house, it will actually take more energy switching the system back on to cool your house once you get home.

If you’re going to be out of town for a little while longer, then you may want to turn off your air conditioner, however, it depends. If you are leaving in the summer for a while when the humidity is extra high, you’re home will benefit from leaving the AC on. Air conditioners not only cool the air, but they remove humidity that can damage your home. If there is going to be high humidity while you’re away, leave the AC on. However, if you’re leaving in the colder months, it might be OK to go ahead and switch it off. Just be sure that your blinds are drawn so no extra heat gets in.

AC Checklist

If you’re getting ready for your next great escape, here is a checklist to follow before leaving for your next vacation:

Set your AC. Whether you’re switching it off or turning up the temp, don’t forget to set your AC before you leave.

Install a programmable thermostat. You can control the new programmable thermostats straight from your phone! This way you can monitor your home’s temperature and change it to get your home nice and cool before you head back to town.

Change the filter. A dirty filter can leave you with poor air quality and a high-energy bill. Make sure you have a fresh filter in before you leave.

Have an AC Checkup. The last thing you want is for your system to break down while you’re on vacation! Have a professional look over and clean your AC before you go to make sure it’s in peak shape.

Get Your AC Vacation Ready

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Clearwater, we can help you get your AC vacation ready. Our experienced technicians can install the latest programmable thermostat and will do a complete AC checkup for your home. So before you start packing those bags, give One Hour Air Largo a call!