How to Prepare Your HVAC System for Summer Vacation

It goes without saying that a dirty air filter can cause plenty of problems with your HVAC system. For starters, it can restrict airflow your unit needs to properly function, resulting in greater wear and tear as well as wasted energy. A clogged air filter can also negatively impact your home's indoor air quality, which could lead to allergy and asthma symptoms.

Before you leave, you should change your HVAC air filter as a precaution against the above problems. A fresh air filter in your HVAC system can give you peace of mind while you're away from home.

A clogged air filter isn't the only issue that can negatively impact your HVAC system's airflow. If you leave one or more of your HVAC system's vents and registers closed while you're gone, that can also have an impact on overall airflow. It can prevent conditioned air from reaching certain parts of your home, creating temperature imbalances that cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary.

It's a good idea to open all of the vents and registers throughout your home before you pack up and leave. It'll keep your HVAC system operating at a steady temperature and keep energy usage at a minimum.

Since you're away from home, there's no need to leave your thermostat at its usual temperatures. All you'll end up doing is wasting energy and stressing your HVAC system for no reason. However, you don't want to turn your HVAC system off, as this could leave your home vulnerable to moisture buildup and mold/mildew growth while you're away.

The next best thing is to raise your thermostat temperature a few degrees warmer than you'd normally have it set when you're home. The few extra degrees won't harm your home—instead, it'll place less stress on your HVAC equipment while keeping excess humidity at bay. Most programmable thermostats have a "vacation" mode you can use to automatically adjust temperatures before leaving your home.

Owned by countless millions of Americans, the smartphone is almost a constant presence in many people's lives. These days, you can use these ubiquitous mobile devices to control a broad range of appliances and equipment, including your HVAC system. All it takes is a mobile app that's compatible with your HVAC thermostat.

You can use your HVAC mobile app to not only control temperatures from almost any location but also monitor various aspects of your home and its HVAC system, including humidity levels, fan speeds and much more. You can even reprogram your thermostat via the mobile app if you have a sudden change of plan and expect to be home sooner or later than expected.

These and other tips can help make your summer vacation a bit less stressful, as you won't have to worry about how your HVAC system is running by its lonesome. For more tips or if you need to schedule HVAC service, get in touch with us through our online contact form, or call us at 919-658-2971.