The holiday season brings family gatherings and often long trips away from home. Whether you are driving across Ohio to visit relatives or flying across the country for an extended stay, your home in Canton still needs attention. One of the most overlooked but critical steps before leaving is adjusting your thermostat. Setting it too high or too low can create problems that go beyond wasted energy, from frozen pipes to unnecessary strain on your HVAC system. Finding the right balance protects your home, reduces energy costs, and ensures comfort.
At GMC Heating & Cooling Inc., we can help you prepare your heating systems for the winter season. With Canton’s chilly winters, knowing how to set your thermostat during holiday travel makes a real difference in safety and efficiency, giving you peace of mind while you are away.
The Risks of Leaving the Temperature Too High
If you leave your thermostat set at the same temperature you use when you are home, your system will run almost constantly while you are gone. For many family homes, this means keeping the thermostat set between 70 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. While you enjoy this comfort when you are home, traveling turns it into wasted energy and higher heating bills.
Running your furnace unnecessarily also causes wear and tear on your system. Instead of coasting through the holiday season, the system will cycle frequently, increasing strain on components like the blower motor and heat exchanger. This added workload could worsen small issues and leave you with a repair bill shortly after you return from your trip.
Heating an empty house to high temperatures serves no purpose. By lowering the thermostat before you leave, you save money and give your furnace a break during one of the busiest times of the year.
The Risks of Leaving the Temperature Too Low
On the other hand, dropping your thermostat too low to save on bills can cause serious damage to your home. In Canton, freezing temperatures are common in late November and December. If your home becomes too cold, water pipes may freeze and burst, leading to flooding and costly repairs.
A setting that is too low can also cause condensation problems. Cold air holds less moisture, and when your home drops too close to freezing, it can create excess dryness that damages wood floors, furniture, and even musical instruments. You don’t want to return from a holiday trip to discover warped flooring or cracked cabinetry, all of which are preventable with proper thermostat management.
HVAC systems also suffer when temperatures dip too low. If the system shuts down or struggles to restart in extreme cold, you may return to a home with no heat at all, requiring emergency service at the worst possible time.
Finding the Right Temperature Balance
The ideal thermostat setting you should use when traveling is around 55 to 60 degrees. This range helps prevent pipes from freezing and reduces energy use compared to heating at occupied levels.
Lowering the thermostat to this safe range allows the furnace to run less often while still protecting your investment in the home itself. When you return, your system can restore the house to your preferred comfort level without stress or delay.
Every home has its unique needs, especially older homes in Stark County that have less insulation. If you’re unsure of the best setting, consider scheduling a pre-holiday maintenance check with GMC Heating & Cooling Inc.. We can evaluate your insulation and ductwork to ensure your system efficiency is where it should be and recommend the safest setting for your home.
The Role of Smart Thermostats
Modern technology makes holiday travel easier than ever, and smart thermostats have become a game-changer. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust the temperature in your home remotely from your phone. If you set the thermostat to 58 degrees before leaving and then the forecast shows extreme cold moving into Canton, you can bump the temperature up without cutting your trip short.
Smart thermostats also provide energy tracking and alerts. If the system shuts off unexpectedly while you are away, some models can notify you immediately, allowing you to arrange service before a frozen pipe becomes a disaster. This level of control is particularly valuable during the holidays when you could be hundreds of miles away.
Another benefit is scheduling. You can program your thermostat to warm your house a few hours before you return. Instead of walking into a chilly home, you enjoy comfort the moment you arrive while still saving energy during your trip.
Preventing System Strain During Winter Travel
Furnaces in Canton already work hard through long, cold winters. Leaving them to run unnecessarily while you are gone increases strain and raises the chance of mid-season breakdowns. A well-timed thermostat adjustment reduces the workload and extends the life of your system.
It also helps to think about airflow before leaving. Make sure that vents remain open and unobstructed to prevent the furnace from struggling to push air through the home. Check all your filters and replace them if they appear dirty. Even if the thermostat is set correctly, a clogged filter can cause overheating or wasted energy.
Scheduling a tune-up with GMC Heating & Cooling Inc. before the holidays provides peace of mind. We can check safety controls, test the ignition system, and inspect for issues that might worsen if left unattended. Combining the right thermostat setting with preventative maintenance will give you the best chance of avoiding holiday repair emergencies.
Special Considerations For Extended Trips
If your holiday travel is for weeks rather than days, paying extra attention to thermostat settings becomes even more important. For longer absences, keep the thermostat slightly higher, closer to 60 degrees, to provide a greater margin of safety against freezing.
Consider asking a trusted neighbor or family member to check in on your home while you’re away on extended trips. Even the best thermostat settings cannot account for sudden power outages or equipment failures. Having someone check for unusual drafts, water leaks, or furnace malfunctions provides another layer of security.
Another factor to consider during extended trips is humidity control. Winters in Canton can be extremely dry, and if your home’s air becomes too arid, wood floors, musical instruments, and even drywall can suffer damage. If your furnace works with a whole-home humidifier, set it to maintain a moderate level of moisture while you are away. Avoid over-humidifying, as too much moisture in an unoccupied home can create mold concerns.
Protecting Your Home While Lowering Costs
Balancing energy efficiency with safety remains the main goal of thermostat management during holiday travel. When you avoid settings that are too high or too low, you reduce utility bills and protect the integrity of your home. Taking a proactive approach by setting the thermostat properly and scheduling maintenance ensures your home stays protected while you enjoy your holiday celebrations.
Call GMC Heating & Cooling Inc. Before You Travel
Before you head out for Thanksgiving or pack your bags for Christmas, give your HVAC system the attention it needs. At GMC Heating & Cooling Inc., we have been helping Canton families to keep homes safe and comfortable through Ohio winters for more than three decades. Whether you want a pre-trip inspection or advice on upgrading to a smart thermostat, our team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule service before your holiday travel.
