Leaving Arizona for a summer vacation creates an obvious question: why pay to cool an empty house?
Turning the air conditioner completely off may sound like the easiest way to reduce energy use, but an Arizona home can become extremely hot without cooling. Your AC does more than keep people comfortable. Indoor temperature can also affect electronics, furnishings, stored belongings, certain appliances, plants, pets, and other temperature-sensitive parts of the home.
For many homeowners, the better strategy is not AC on versus AC off. It is deciding how much you can reasonably raise the thermostat while the house is vacant.
There is no single vacation temperature that is right for every Arizona home. Worlock Air Conditioning & Heating recommends considering the home itself, how long you’ll be gone, what remains inside, HVAC condition, and seasonal weather before making a major thermostat adjustment.
Should I Completely Turn Off My AC While I’m Away?
During an Arizona summer, completely shutting off cooling deserves careful consideration. An unconditioned home can become substantially hotter than normal indoor living temperatures.
Before turning the system off, think about:
- Pets remaining in the home
- Indoor plants
- Electronics
- Temperature-sensitive belongings
- Medications or other stored products with temperature requirements
- Refrigerators and freezers operating in hotter indoor conditions
- Indoor humidity during monsoon conditions
- How long the property will be vacant
If any person or pet remains in the home, their safety and comfort requirements take priority over vacation energy savings.
Should I Raise the Thermostat Instead?
For many vacant homes, raising the thermostat rather than eliminating cooling entirely provides a middle ground.
The AC operates less frequently while still limiting extreme indoor temperatures. How far you can reasonably adjust the thermostat depends on the property and what is inside it.
Avoid relying on a universal internet setting without considering your circumstances.
Why Does Arizona Make Vacation AC Settings Different?
Advice written for another climate does not always translate neatly to Phoenix and the surrounding Valley.
Arizona homeowners need to account for:
Extreme Heat
Outdoor temperatures can remain extremely high for extended periods.
Intense Solar Gain
Windows, roofs, and exterior surfaces exposed to strong desert sun can contribute substantial heat to the home.
Long Absences
Seasonal residents and frequent travelers may leave Valley homes vacant for longer than a typical weekend vacation.
Monsoon Conditions
Summer weather can bring increased moisture, dust, storms, and electrical interruptions.
Our Arizona monsoon AC preparation guide explains how homeowners can prepare cooling equipment for seasonal storm conditions.
Does Turning the Thermostat Up Save Energy?
Reducing cooling demand while the home is vacant can reduce the amount of time the air conditioner needs to operate.
The exact savings depend on:
- Thermostat adjustment
- Length of absence
- Outdoor weather
- Home insulation
- Windows
- Air leakage
- HVAC efficiency
- Other property conditions
The goal should be a sensible setback, not simply creating the largest possible temperature difference from your normal setting.
Will My AC Have to Work Harder When I Come Home?
If you return to a significantly warmer house and lower the thermostat, the system may need to operate for an extended period to remove accumulated heat.
That does not necessarily mean you should maintain your normal occupied temperature throughout the entire vacation.
It means you should expect recovery to take time.
Setting the thermostat extremely low when you return generally does not make a standard AC cool the home dramatically faster.
Choose your desired setting and allow the system to work.
Can I Turn My AC Off for a Weekend?
The shorter the trip, the less benefit there may be in allowing indoor temperatures to rise dramatically and then recovering the house when you return.
A thermostat setback can provide a simpler approach.
Again, consider pets, plants, belongings, home conditions, and weather before making the adjustment.
What About Leaving an Arizona Home for Several Weeks or Months?
Long absences deserve more planning than a weekend trip.
Seasonal residents should consider:
- HVAC maintenance before departure
- Filter condition
- Thermostat programming
- Smart thermostat alerts
- Monsoon preparation
- Condensate drainage
- Someone periodically checking the property
- Emergency contact arrangements
A cooling system failure in an occupied home becomes obvious quickly. A failure in a vacant home may go unnoticed.
That makes remote monitoring and periodic property checks particularly valuable for extended absences.
Can a Smart Thermostat Help While I’m Away?
A compatible smart thermostat can provide useful visibility into home temperature while you travel.
Depending on the system and thermostat, features may include:
- Remote temperature monitoring
- Schedule changes
- High-temperature alerts
- System notifications
- Remote adjustments
A thermostat cannot diagnose every HVAC problem, but noticing an unexpected temperature increase while away can alert you that the home may need attention.
Should I Schedule AC Maintenance Before a Long Summer Trip?
It can be worthwhile, particularly if your system is due for maintenance or has recently shown signs of trouble.
A professional AC maintenance visit can help identify certain developing problems before you leave the system operating unattended.
This becomes more important if you’ve noticed:
- Unusually long runtimes
- Weak airflow
- Strange noises
- Recent electrical problems
- Drainage concerns
- Inconsistent cooling
- A system overdue for service
Our Arizona HVAC maintenance calendar can help you plan seasonal HVAC tasks around travel and Arizona weather.
What Should I Do With the AC Filter Before Vacation?
Inspect the filter before leaving, especially during summer. If it is visibly dirty or due for replacement, install an appropriate clean filter.
A heavily restricted filter can reduce airflow and interfere with cooling performance.
For an extended absence, starting with a filter in appropriate condition removes one avoidable source of HVAC strain.
What if My AC Breaks While I’m Away?
This is one of the strongest reasons to think beyond thermostat settings.
If possible, arrange a way to know if indoor temperatures rise unexpectedly.
That could involve:
- Smart thermostat alerts
- Home monitoring
- A trusted person checking the property
- A property management service for seasonal homes
Keep contact information for a local HVAC contractor accessible.
Worlock Air provides AC repair and emergency AC repair throughout its Phoenix Valley service area.
Should I Turn Off My AC During a Monsoon?
A vacation thermostat strategy and storm response are two different issues.
Do not assume the AC should remain permanently off simply because monsoon weather is possible while you’re away.
Instead, prepare the property appropriately and use remote monitoring where practical.
If a major electrical event affects HVAC equipment, the system may need professional evaluation before normal operation resumes.
What Should Seasonal Arizona Residents Do Before Leaving?
For snowbirds and other seasonal residents, an HVAC departure checklist can include:
- Inspect or replace the filter if appropriate.
- Set the thermostat for the vacant home’s needs.
- Confirm thermostat programming.
- Enable available temperature alerts.
- Make sure supply and return vents aren’t accidentally blocked.
- Check that outdoor equipment is reasonably clear of debris.
- Address known HVAC problems before departure.
- Arrange periodic property checks for long absences.
- Keep your HVAC company’s contact information available.
If your AC has already become unreliable, leaving it unattended for months is not the ideal time to hope an existing problem resolves itself.
Should I Replace an Unreliable AC Before Leaving for the Season?
Not simply because you’re traveling.
However, a long absence can make existing reliability concerns more important.
If an aging system already requires frequent repairs, struggles during extreme heat, or has major component problems, discuss your options before leaving the property unattended.
Professional AC replacement may make sense when the existing system has reached the point where continued reliability is questionable.
Prepare Your Arizona AC Before You Leave
Vacation should not mean worrying about what your air conditioner is doing hundreds or thousands of miles away.
A sensible thermostat setback, clean filter, appropriate maintenance, remote temperature monitoring, and a plan for someone to respond if something goes wrong can make leaving an Arizona home much easier.
Worlock Air has served Arizona homeowners since 1987, including full-time and seasonal residents throughout Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West, Youngtown, El Mirage, Litchfield Park, and surrounding communities.
Contact Worlock Air if you’d like your AC inspected or serviced before an extended Arizona trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I turn my AC completely off when I go on vacation in Arizona?
Not necessarily. Arizona homes can become extremely hot without cooling. Many homeowners instead raise the thermostat while considering pets, plants, electronics, belongings, humidity, home conditions, and the length of the trip.
What temperature should I leave my AC at while on vacation?
There is no single temperature appropriate for every Arizona property. The setting should account for outdoor weather, the home, what remains inside, length of absence, and any temperature-sensitive occupants or belongings.
Does raising my thermostat while I’m away save energy?
Reducing cooling demand can decrease AC runtime while the home is vacant. Actual savings depend on the thermostat adjustment, weather, home efficiency, HVAC system, and duration of the trip.
Should I leave my AC running if I’m gone for months?
Long-term vacancies require a property-specific plan. Seasonal Arizona residents should consider thermostat settings, HVAC maintenance, remote temperature monitoring, filter condition, storm preparation, and periodic property checks.
Should I service my AC before leaving Arizona for the summer?
If the system is due for maintenance, has shown performance problems, or will operate unattended for an extended period, scheduling service before departure can help identify certain developing issues and give you greater confidence in the system.
