HVAC Tips for Safe Vacations During the Christmas Season

As we get closer to the holiday season, many people travel to visit family and friends. While you’re likely to be consumed with planning your vacation, it’s also important to keep your home in mind. You want to ensure that it’s properly prepared for your time away, as doing so will bring you peace of mind while you’re on your vacation.

Turn Down Your Thermostat

Consider turning down the thermostat for your HVAC system. If you already have a schedule programmed into it, be sure to alter your settings for the time that you’re going to be away from home. Since it’s not necessary to produce a lot of heat when nobody is home, it’s highly advisable to turn down the thermostat temperature to save money on energy bills. A good recommendation is usually between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep your house warm enough so that the water lines won’t freeze without wasting a lot of money running your heating system unnecessarily.

Consider Installing a Smart Thermostat

Another thing you may want to consider is investing in a smart thermostat. This technology gives you the ability to adjust your thermostat settings from the convenience of your smartphone. This means that if inclement weather arrives at your home while you’re on vacation, you can make changes to your heating system so your home will be warmer. This will protect against issues like freezing pipes. Furthermore, you can easily turn up your thermostat when you’re on your way home to ensure that your home is nice and comfortable when you arrive back from vacation.

Consider Smart Safety Devices

At the bare minimum, your home should have a smoke detector on each level of your home in non-sleeping areas. Detectors should also be installed in each sleeping area and in each hallway leading to those bedrooms. If you have a heating system that burns heating oil, propane, or even natural gas, then you should also have carbon monoxide detectors in each location. While these detectors are great for when you’re home and can hear them, they don’t do you much good if you’re on vacation.

You may want to consider upgrading to smart smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. These units will send you an alert on your phone if there is any detection of smoke or carbon monoxide. You’ll even be able to tell which detector is going off, so you know exactly where the issue is in your home. This can go a long way in allowing you to respond quickly by calling your local fire department if something goes wrong with your heating system.

Check Your Air Vents

Before leaving on vacation, it’s a good idea to walk around to each room of your home and look at the air vents. Ensure that they’re all in an open position. Additionally, you want to verify that there are no objects blocking the vent. With holiday decorating, it can be easy to accidentally put something in front of the vent that could restrict its airflow. When airflow is restricted, it not only reduces system efficiency but can also pose a potential fire hazard. Verify that any items you have are at least three feet away from the vent.

Check Your HVAC Filter

Before you head out for the holidays, be sure to take a moment and check the state of your HVAC filter. It’s ideal to go ahead and replace the filter before you leave for vacation if it looks dirty. This will ensure that your system is working in peak condition, so your HVAC system will only have to run for a short amount of time to heat your home. Leaving a dirty filter in your heating system could end up causing system inefficiency and overworking the internal components of your system, potentially leading to a breakdown.

Have Your System Serviced

Another good rule of thumb is to have your heating system serviced by an HVAC professional prior to going on vacation. We will be able to examine the entire operation of your system and alert you of any potential issues that it may have. For example, we may notice that the fan belt for your blower motor is starting to wear out. It’s wise to replace this belt now to prevent it from breaking down while you’re away from home. No one wants to find out while on vacation that their home’s heating system isn’t working.

Clean Your Outdoor Condenser Unit

If you rely on a heat pump to warm your Los Angeles home, it’s a good idea to clear debris from the outdoor unit. Any leaves or twigs that are pushed up against the unit should be removed, as they can restrict its overall operating efficiency. If you notice that any of your trees or shrubs are within a few feet of the condenser unit, then go ahead and trim them back to provide adequate space for safe operation. If possible, have a neighbor come over and check your unit after any inclement weather comes through your area.

Check Your Indoor Heating Unit

When you’re busy trying to pack for a holiday vacation, it isn’t uncommon to accidentally place items somewhere they shouldn’t be. Before leaving your home, be sure to take a moment and inspect the area around your HVAC equipment. It doesn’t matter if you have a ductless mini-split unit or a furnace. Make sure that there are no flammable items near it and that it has at least six feet of open space around it.

Close Windows and Blinds

One other step you want to take is to shut your blinds and curtains. While letting natural sunlight in during the day can be great for raising the temperature, leaving these locations open at night can allow cold air to transfer into your home. It’s best to keep all your window blinds or curtains completely shut, as they’ll act as an insulating layer to help better control the temperature during the evening so that your heating system doesn’t have to run as much.

Other Household Preparation Tips

Apart from properly preparing your HVAC system for when you’re away, there are other things that you’ll want to do prior to leaving to ensure that your home stays safe while you’re gone. Walk around to all windows and doors and ensure that they’re properly secured and locked. If you have sensors at these locations, make sure that their batteries are fresh.

Unplug any electrical devices that aren’t going to be in use while you’re away. This helps to eliminate the risk of the device experiencing an electrical malfunction. Don’t forget things like cleaning your dishes, clearing perishables out of your fridge, and taking out the trash to avoid any sort of unwanted food scraps that could attract critters to your home and HVAC system.

Exceptional HVAC Maintenance Service

Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric offers exceptional HVAC maintenance service for the Los Angeles, CA, community. We can assist with all your plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning needs.

Book an appointment by calling our office today.