Order Title: Southport Home Services – Holiday Travel Thermostat Guide for Wisconsin Homes
Order-ID: 24372990
Article Title: Southport Home Services – Holiday Travel Thermostat Guide for Wisconsin Homes
Article Text:
Vital Tips to Prepare Your Thermostat Before Holiday Travels
The thermostat plays a key role in your home’s safety and integrity. Even when you are not home, it can help protect the property from frozen pipes and high energy bills. Before you embark on your holiday travels this year, follow this helpful thermostat guide for your home in Madison, WI.
Do Not Turn Off the Thermostat
Your first instinct might be to turn off the thermostat before heading out for your holiday travels. You might assume this strategy is the best way to conserve energy.
However, turning off the thermostat increases serious risks like frozen pipes and water damage. Leave the thermostat on while you are away from home.
Keep the Temperature at a Safe Setting
You do not have to crank up the thermostat to keep your home safe during your absence. Instead, set it to 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This setting is sufficient for saving energy while you are away and also lowering the risk of frozen pipes and water damage.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Insulating exposed pipes also helps protect your home during your absence. Wrap them in foam or heated tape. You avoid having to keep the thermostat at a higher temperature to keep them from freezing and bursting.
Open the Cabinet Doors
Open the cabinet doors under your bathroom and kitchen sinks before you leave. This tip allows warm air to circulate around the pipes. It also spares you from having to set the thermostat at a higher temperature to keep the pipes from freezing.
Keep the Interior Doors Open
Do not close the doors to the bedrooms and bathrooms before you depart. Leave them open. Open doors in your home allow heat to circulate evenly and prevent your furnace from cycling more frequently to keep the home warm. This strategy can also save you money on your heating bills.
Closer the Curtains and Blinds
Close the blinds and curtains to help keep heat inside your home while you are away. Ensure the blinds are pulled down to the windowsill to keep out drafts. Use lined or insulated curtains to prevent heat from escaping.
Seal Window and Door Drafts
Inspect the windows and doors for openings before the holidays. Cracks, holes, and other openings allow air and moisture into the house. Use materials like weatherstripping, caulk, or spray foam to seal them and help keep your home warmer.
Close the Fireplace Dampers
Close the dampers if you have a fireplace before leaving. Open dampers allow heat to escape from your home.
Insulate the Attic
Ensure the attic has enough insulation. Poor insulation in this part of your home allows heat to escape and cold air to come inside. Tear out old and damaged insulation, and replace it before the holiday season.
Change the HVAC Filters
Remember to change the HVAC filters. Dirty filters make it harder for your furnace to heat your home. Change them every two to three months to ensure your heating system works effectively.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat makes it easier to keep your home comfortable while you are away for the holidays. It can also save you money on your monthly heating bills. We can install a new smart thermostat before your upcoming travels.
Enable Remote Monitoring
Once we install your new smart thermostat, enable its remote monitoring. Most of these thermostats come with mobile apps that allow for remote control. Use this app to monitor how much energy your heating system uses, set the thermostat temperature, create a heating schedule, and turn the system on and off.
Use Vacation Mode
Use the vacation mode on the smart thermostat. This setting maintains a preset “away” temperature, typically between 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. It also prevents the furnace from cycling and using excessive amounts of energy.
Set Thermostat Alerts
Set alerts for your smart thermostat. These alerts will notify you if the temperature falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit inside your home.
They also alert you to unusually high temperatures, excessive humidity levels, and system malfunctions. You can act quickly to adjust or turn off the heating system and protect your home from damage.
Install a Whole-House Surge Protector
Install a whole-house surge protector. This device intercepts a power surge at the home’s main electrical panel.
It protects all of the connected devices, including your thermostat, preventing damage and reducing the risk of fire. It also ensures the thermostat’s vacation mode and smart alerts remain functional.
Use a Smart Humidifier
Protect your home from humidity and damage with a smart humidifier. It helps maintain an ideal humidity level between 30% to 50% even with the thermostat turned lower. It also prevents static buildup and protects wood floors and furniture from warping and rot.
Pay Attention to the Weather
Even if you are in a hot and sunny climate during your getaway, pay attention to the local Wisconsin weather. Use a mobile app, and set it to your home’s location.
Adjust the setting on your smart thermostat remotely to accommodate the weather. It ensures your home remains safe during cold snaps, heavy snow, and ice storms.
Leave a Key With a Trusted Neighbor or Friend
As an added safety measure, consider leaving a key with a friend or neighbor. Show this person where the thermostat is and how to adjust it as needed.
This tip can come in handy if the weather calls for extreme cold during your absence. It helps mitigate the risk of pipe freezing and water damage.
Create an Emergency Checklist
Create and print out an emergency checklist for this person. Ensure the list includes your preferred thermostat settings if you are not using a smart thermostat. Likewise, include the phone number to our business if the thermostat or the heating system stops working.
Program the Return-to-Comfort Schedule
You can also use the return-to-comfort feature on your thermostat. This setting prompts the furnace to warm up your home before your scheduled arrival. You avoid walking into a chilly home and having to wait for the system to heat the house to your preference.
Review Your Utility Provider’s Winter Energy-Saving Advice
Most utility providers send customers winter energy-saving guides in the late summer or early fall. Review it to learn how to set your thermostat before you depart for holiday travels. Learn about insulation upgrades and what temperature to set the thermostat while you are away from home.
Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up
Make sure your heating system undergoes a yearly tune-up. Before the rush of the holidays, schedule this service to ensure your thermostat works optimally. Routine maintenance also identifies other potential problems, such as leaks or broken parts, that will prevent the system from working normally and potentially shorten its lifespan.
Experienced Thermostat Services in Madison
At Southport Home Services, we have 20 years of experience providing reliable thermostat services for homeowners in the Madison area. As our customer, you receive a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We also have 24/7 emergency repair services available. Our business employs NATE-certified HVAC technicians and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We also won the prestigious Carrier Presidents Award in 2022 and 2023. Contact Southport Home Services for thermostat services today.
