Heading out of town during an Oklahoma summer? Setting your AC correctly before you leave can save you significant money on energy bills while still protecting your home from heat damage.
Set your thermostat to 85°F when you leave for vacation during Oklahoma summers. This is warm enough to save substantial energy but cool enough to prevent heat-related damage to furniture, electronics, and pets' comfort if someone is checking on them. In winter, set it to 55-60°F to prevent pipes from freezing during cold snaps.
If you have a smart thermostat like Nest or Ecobee, you can monitor and adjust your home's temperature remotely. This lets you cool the house back down before you arrive home. ARP Heat And Air installs all major smart thermostat brands.
In Oklahoma's extreme summer heat, turning your AC completely off can allow indoor temperatures to reach 100°F+. This can damage wood furniture, warp flooring, and create excessive humidity that leads to mold growth. Keep it running at a higher setpoint instead.
Before heading out on vacation, take a few minutes to prepare your HVAC system. Close all blinds and curtains — especially on south and west-facing windows — to reduce solar heat gain. Make sure all doors and windows are fully closed and locked. Check that your air filter is clean — a clogged filter while you're away could lead to a frozen coil and water damage with no one home to catch it.
Oklahoma's summer humidity can cause mold growth in an empty home if temperatures get too high. Setting your AC to 85°F keeps humidity in check while saving significant energy. If your thermostat has a humidity setting, set it to 55-60% maximum. Consider running bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans on a timer to help control moisture.
Don't crank the thermostat down to 65°F when you walk in the door — your system will struggle to cool a hot house that quickly, and you risk freezing the evaporator coil. Instead, set it to 78°F and let it cool gradually over a couple hours. Once it reaches 78°F, lower it to your normal setting.
If you have questions about optimizing your HVAC settings or need a smart thermostat installed, call ARP Heat And Air at (405) 413-0583. We offer free estimates and same-day service throughout the OKC metro.