All you need to do is step outside in the Georgia heat to remember how much you love your home’s air conditioning system. During the hottest time of the year, our team is often asked about turning off an HVAC system when leaving for the day or vacation. For a climate like Georgia, this is not advisable. While tempting to turn off the system to save money, the simple answer is do not turn it off when you are gone. There are several reasons for leaving the system running, in addition to a few steps you can take to remain energy efficient while you’re away.

No One Wants to Return to a Hot Home

Picture this: you’re back from a trip with your family, you are lugging in the heavy bags you have on your shoulders, you open your front door, and a wave of heat hits. An air conditioner that is turned off when you’re out of town or even at work for several hours leaves your home hot and sticky. You do not want to add to your discomfort waiting for your house to cool down.

This Ages Your HVAC System

In a place with 90-degree heat and no relief in the temperature overnight, an internal temperature in your home in the 90s would take hours to cool. This amount of stopping and restarting can cause strain, which ages this essential home appliance.

A Hot Home Encourages Mold and Mildew

Your air conditioner keeps your space cool but it also removes humidity and allergens from your air. In a high humidity state like Georgia, it doesn’t take long for fabrics in your home to grow mold. Don’t expose yourself, your family, or your pets to mold or mildew.

Solutions for When You’re Gone

The easiest way to keep your system on but under less strain is to keep it the temperature higher when you aren’t at your residence. A programmable thermostat is recommended so that you can set the temp up a few degrees while you’re away and then have it cool off before you return. For people that travel frequently, upgrading to a smart thermostat is even better. Many smart thermostats connect with your cell phone so you can control the temperature of your home remotely.

Mitchell Cooling + Heating is able to help with all of your HVAC maintenance, repair, and replacement needs. Reach out to our professionals if you want to get your system in top condition for the heat of the summer.