Stop newspaper delivery – check. Shut off the water supply to prevent flooding – check. Have a neighbor keep an eye on your house and water your plants – check.
While there is no doubt plenty of other pre-vacation planning and preparation measures on your list, have you decided what to do about your central AC system while you’re gone? Hopefully, the following advice will help.
One way an AC system does its job is by removing humidity. So, turning it off not only keeps the cool air away but allows indoor humidity to build up without necessary restraints.
For optimum comfort and proper home care, keep indoor levels between 30 – 50% relative humidity. A simple hygrometer available at local home centers will help you keep track.
Without humidity control, you’re likely to face these and other problems:
So, what’s a careful homeowner to do here in the Eagan, MN area?
Keeping your AC system on doesn’t mean maintaining “cool and comfortable” temperatures. You just want the interior to be cool enough to prevent damage from high heat and humidity. A setting of 83-86 degrees should be adequate, which means you’ll also see a nice reduction on your next electricity bill.
For greater peace of mind, consider replacing your main thermostat with a programmable model that also includes a Wi-Fi-accessible app. That way, you can keep track of your AC system’s performance during your absence and contact a professional should you detect a problem. After all, who wants to come down to zero air conditioning? No one we know!
If it’s been a year or longer since your AC system was last cleaned and inspected, we urge you to contact Bob Boldt HVAC today to schedule service. That way, if any minor problems are uncovered, they can be repaired with time to spare. We look forward to this and every opportunity to serve your home comfort needs.
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