Richmonders aren’t surprised by hot summer weather, but it’s getting even hotter. This summer will be one of the hottest yet, even hotter than 2024’s record-setter. That means your AC will have to work harder to keep you and your family cool.
Good news: You can help avoid breaking your budget, even as the Richmond heat sets new records in 2025.
Save While You’re Away for the Day or Longer
As the summer temperatures climb, give your AC a break and save while you’re away. By raising your thermostat when you’re not home, you can save on the energy it takes to keep your home cool. Since you’re not there, you won’t even notice the difference! Where you will notice is on your energy bill.
Save on cooling your home while you’re away for:
• a weeklong family vacation
• a weekend travel tournament with the kids
• a day trip to the river, the beach, or grandma’s house
• a long day at the community pool
• a workday, whether you go in the office daily or just a few days a week
Adjusting your thermostat is an everyday savings strategy. It isn’t just for when you’re away for a long vacation. Even if your home is empty for just one day, adjusting the thermostat can reduce the energy needed to keep it cool during the hottest parts of the day. Small changes can lead to noticeable savings over time.
Let’s Talk Temperature
Believe it or not, according to the U.S. Department of Energy you can save up to 10% on your energy bills by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. If you usually keep your indoor temperature at 74 degrees, consider setting it between 79 and 84 degrees while you’re away. Fun fact: For every degree you raise your thermostat above 72 degrees you can save about 3 percent on your cooling costs.
Take note: It’s not recommended to set your summer thermostat higher than 85 degrees, because the AC might not run often enough to remove humidity from your home. Excess humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth, and nobody wants that.
For extra cooling help, consider closing your shades, blinds, and curtains. Keeping the sun out will help you keep the house cooler, reducing the work your AC has to do. Plus, when you’re away for an extended period of time, keeping your windows covered is a great home security strategy as well, so this tip is a win-win.
One last thing to consider: If your pets are home while you’re not, make sure they’re comfortable, or make sure they’re able to stay in the part of your house that’s coolest even when you’re raising the indoor temperature.
Resetting When You Return
When you’re back home, it’s back to normal for your thermostat.
If you have a manual thermostat, you’ll need to wait until you’re home to adjust it. Depending on the size of your home and the time of day, you might feel warm until the house cools back down. If you’re coming home from vacation, you could ask a trusted friend or neighbor to adjust the temperature on the day you return, so the house will be cool when you walk in the door.
But there’s a better option! A smart thermostat allows you to control your HVAC system anytime, anywhere, right from your smartphone. This means you can adjust the temperature before you return home from work or vacation. You can even make changes while you’re on the road if you forgot to do it before leaving. At Trane, we offer smart thermostats that are compatible with Trane systems as well as other HVAC brands.
Your thermostat may also have a vacation mode or “away” setting you can program in advance — a convenient “set it and forget it” feature. If you’re not sure, check your owner’s manual for directions. All Trane thermostat manuals can be easily accessed on our website.
Give your AC and your wallet a break while you’re away this summer. Here’s to keeping your family cool, no matter what Mother Nature has up her sleeve for Richmond this year!
For more information, contact your local Trane Specialist.
Learn how to take control of your home’s indoor air quality here.
