Should I Turn Down Thermostats During Trips?

You might be tempted to turn down the heat in your home when you go on a trip during the winter. You won’t be there to enjoy it, so why pay to heat an empty house? While this might seem like a smart financial decision, there are reasons why you shouldn’t lower your heat when you’re away. Here we’ll answer the question “Should I turn down thermostats during trips?”

Reasons To Lower Temps On Vacation

Pipes may freeze

If you turn down the thermostat too low, there’s a risk that your pipes could freeze. When water freezes it expands, which can cause your pipes to burst. This can lead to costly repairs and water damage to your home. The damage can worsen 10x with you not being there to catch it. To prevent this from happening, it’s best to leave your heat at a moderate temperature, even when you’re away.

Energy bills might not be lower

You might think that turning down the heat will save you money on your energy bill, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, it can be more energy-efficient to keep your heat at a consistent temperature. When you lower the heat, your furnace has to work harder to warm up your home when you return. The net effect is it can actually increase your energy usage.

It’s not good for your furniture

Extreme temperature changes can be hard on wood furniture. When you turn down the heat and then turn it back up again, it can cause wood to expand and contract. This swelling and contracting can cause finishes to crack. To protect your furniture, it’s best to keep the temperature in your home consistent, even when you’re not there.

Drywall Damage

Just like wood contracts and expands, so does your drywall. As the gypsum board contracts it can cause cracks at joints and also create nail pops, where a tiny piece of paint pops off nail heads.

It can be a fire hazard

If you’re using space heaters to keep your home warm while you’re away, turning down the heat could be a fire hazard. Space heaters are the leading cause of house fires in the winter, and if you’re not there to keep an eye on them, it’s easy for them to overheat or malfunction. To stay safe, it’s best to leave your heat at a moderate temperature, even when you’re not there.

It’s not good for your plants

If you have houseplants, turning down the heat when you leave on a trip can be harmful to them. Most houseplants thrive in a temperature range of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you turn down the heat too low, it could cause them to go into dormancy or even die. To keep your plants happy and healthy, it’s best to leave the heat at a moderate temperature, even when you’re not there.

The Verdict

In conclusion, there are several reasons why you shouldn’t lower your heat when you leave on a trip during the winter. Pipes may freeze, energy bills might not be lower, it’s not good for your furniture, it can be a fire hazard, and it’s not good for your plants. To stay safe, save money, and protect your home and possessions, it’s best to leave your heat at a moderate temperature, even when you’re not there.