What To Leave Thermostat On In Winter When Away

So, you're off on a winter adventure! Skiing in the Alps? Sipping hot cocoa in a cozy cabin? Escaping to somewhere, anywhere, that isn't your perpetually chilly living room? Excellent! But before you lock the door and bid farewell to your humble abode, let's talk about the elephant in the room…or rather, the little box on the wall that controls the very climate of your home: your thermostat.

What to do with this magical temperature-regulating device when you're away? That’s the question that’s kept homeowners up at night since, well, since thermostats were invented. Do you crank it down to zero and risk coming home to frozen pipes and a grumpy cat (assuming you left Mr. Whiskers behind, of course)? Or do you leave it at your usual cozy setting, effectively paying to heat an empty house?

Fear not, intrepid traveler! The answer, as with most things in life, lies somewhere in the middle. Think Goldilocks, but instead of porridge, we’re talking degrees Fahrenheit.

The "Too Cold" Scenario: A Chilling Tale

Imagine returning from your blissful vacation, visions of sugar plums (or après-ski cocktails) dancing in your head, only to be greeted by…an ice rink where your living room used to be. Pipes have burst, releasing a torrent of icy water. Your houseplants have staged a dramatic, frozen protest. And that vintage vinyl collection? Well, let’s just say it’s not sounding quite the same anymore.

Okay, maybe it won't be that dramatic. But the point is, letting your house get too cold can lead to some serious (and seriously expensive) problems. Think about it: pipes freezing and bursting is a plumbing nightmare that nobody wants to deal with, especially not after a relaxing vacation. Not even Bob Vila himself wants to deal with that.

The "Too Hot" Option: A Wasteful Warm-Up

Now, let's picture the opposite scenario. You’ve left the thermostat cranked up to your usual comfy setting. You return to a house that feels like a tropical rainforest…in January. Your furnace has been working overtime, essentially heating the air for the sheer joy of it (which, let's be honest, isn’t very joyful for your wallet). You've essentially paid a small fortune to keep an empty house toasty warm.

This scenario, while avoiding the plumbing apocalypse, is still far from ideal. It's wasteful, environmentally unfriendly, and frankly, a bit silly. You might as well be burning money to keep the house warm! Maybe you could try leaving the house to Al Gore!

The Goldilocks Solution: Just Right!

So, what's the magic number? The temperature that keeps your pipes happy, your wallet healthy, and your return home joyful? Experts generally recommend setting your thermostat to around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit (13-16 degrees Celsius) when you're away in the winter.

This temperature is low enough to save energy, but high enough to prevent frozen pipes. It's the sweet spot, the Goldilocks zone of thermostat settings. And you could consider giving a spare key to a trusted friend or neighbor so that they can check the house periodically. Maybe offer to bring them a souvenir!

Think of it as giving your house a little "winter vacation" of its own. A chance to relax, conserve energy, and await your triumphant return. And who knows, maybe while you're away, your house will even start missing you! It'll be eagerly awaiting the day you return home, crack open the windows, and fill it with the sounds of laughter, good food, and, of course, the perfect thermostat setting.

So, go forth and enjoy your winter escape! With a little thermostat savvy, you can return home to a happy house, a happy wallet, and a newfound appreciation for the simple pleasures of a perfectly heated (or rather, perfectly not-heated) home.