Homeowners are always looking for ways to save a little money each month around the house. One way they attempt to do this is by turning their HVAC units off when they are away from home for an extended amount of time. We don’t want to have to pay for a cool house while we are away on summer vacations, so it seems like the best answer would be to turn off our air conditioning. However, this could cause more expensive problems that outweigh saving a few dollars on an electric bill.
HVAC units have a dual role, depending on the season. In the summer, they remove the moisture from the air to cool the living space. This has the added advantage of keeping the humidity level in a home below the threshold of mold growth. Turning a system off increases air moisture and potentially creates a favorable environment for mold, warped floors and could potentially ruin wood furniture.
Air conditioning systems are designed to maintain temperatures. It costs significantly more energy, and is much harder on the system to go up and down throughout the day. If you’re leaving for work or overnight don’t adjust your thermostat to “save money.” You don’t in the long run. You could see savings to adjust your thermostat if you are going to be gone for a long weekend or longer, but no more that 5 degrees from your usual desired temperature.