If you’re lucky enough to have a vacation home, you’ve probably wondered about the recommended temperature for an empty house. You may even have asked about what temperature to leave an empty house in the winter.
Other people don’t wonder about this at all. Instead, they assume that they can and should leave the thermostat warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter, since no one needs to be comfortable when no one is staying there.
However, the opposite might actually be true. Higher temperatures in the summer can trap moisture in the house, leading to warping, mold and mildew, and more. Lower indoor temperatures in the winter can lead to frozen pipes as well as condensation problems that result in moisture damage.
Here’s what you need to know about the recommended temperature for an empty house so you can decide where to set your thermostat before you leave your vacation home.
Check With Your Insurance Company
Before you do anything else, check your insurance policy. Many of these now require people to keep their vacation homes between certain temperatures in order to offer coverage. If you don’t set the thermostat correctly, any resulting damage will not be covered under your policy!
If you can’t find this information in your policy but you want to make sure you comply with all rules, call the company directly. They should know what is stipulated in their policies and should be able to tell you what temperature to leave an empty house in the winter and the summer.
Never Go Below 55!
When it comes to home temperatures in the winter, a good rule of thumb is to never set your thermostat below 55 degrees. This ensures that, as long as the heat is working, your pipes won’t get cold enough to freeze and your home won’t suffer from condensation buildup.
Note that a few experts disagree on this and say you can set the thermostat at 50 degrees. However, we have seen damage result from setting it this low, so we don’t recommend doing so.
If your vacation home does suffer damage while you’re not in it, whether it is from an incorrect temperature setting or for another reason, call us at Core24 Services. We can help you with water damage restoration and other services that will get your house back to normal fast!
833-267-3247