Whether it’s a much-needed vacation or an extended trip for work, traveling means making preparations for your HVAC system. You won’t be using it as long as you’re away, so you can adjust it as appropriate to minimize your energy use. Just the same, you shouldn't just leave it off for the entire duration of your trip.

Instead, it’s better to leave your HVAC system running and just make adjustments depending on the season. That way you can minimize energy costs without worrying about coming back to an uncomfortable home. We’ll walk you through why you should avoid turning your HVAC system off as well as the ideal thermostat settings for summer and winter.

This Is Why You Avoid Leaving Your Thermostat on Hold

While you may be tempted to turn your HVAC system off before a trip, this could end up leading to big problems by the time you come back. This is especially true in case the weather will be severely hot or cold while you’re out of town.

For instance, shutting the HVAC system off during the summer will sometimes cause very high humidity. Not only will your home feel gross when you return, but it could h