When it’s time to leave for vacation, you know the drill: Turn off all the lights, double-check every door is locked and have a neighbor on standby in case you have any packages delivered while you’re away. But what about your air conditioner? Should you turn it off, or is there a magic energy-saving temperature you should set it to?

We turned to an HVAC expert for answers. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of your next trip. 

Should you turn your air conditioner off when you’re on vacation?

Although turning off your air conditioner while you’re away may seem like a way to save money, it could do more harm than good in the long run.

“If your home overheats, you risk damage to your electronics, losing houseplants and unsafe conditions for pets,” Erin Katz, the operations manager at Allen Service, which provides HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in Colorado, told CNET.

She also pointed out that once you return home from your vacation, your air conditioner will have to work extra hard to get back to a comfortable temperature, which can put extra stress on the system or air conditioning unit. 

What is the ideal air conditioner temperature when on vacation?

While you shouldn’t turn off your air conditioner completely, you can slightly adjust its temperature so that it isn’t running consistently while you’re away.

“I recommend setting it a few degrees warmer than you would when you’re at home,” Katz said. “For example, 75 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.”

This type of adjustment will mean less energy is used, but won’t allow your home to become excruciatingly hot while you’re away.

“The goal is to pick a slightly warmer but stable temperature that your system can maintain without too much trouble while you’re away,” Katz said. “It uses far less energy to make micro adjustments than it does to turn the system on and off, or ask it to make a big change, such as going from 85 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit when you get home.”

The smart thermostat swap

If you’d rather have full control over your thermostat, even while you’re away, a smart thermostat is the best option.

“They are great for optimizing your energy usage,” Katz explained. 

Smart thermostats have connected phone apps, so you can adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere. They also have scheduling features to automate temperature changes, helping keep your home at an ideal temperature and ensuring it never gets too hot or cold, even when you’re away.

The Best Smart Thermostats of 2026

Corin Cesaric-Epple

Editor

Corin Cesaric-Epple is an Editor at CNET covering home and kitchen tech and meal kits, and reporting regularly on artificial intelligence. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before joining CNET, she covered crime at People Magazine and national and international news for NBC Local Television Stations.

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