Second Home Temperatures

Posted by Debra Cribb No Comments on Second Home Temperatures HVAC

Second Home Temperatures

Should you turn off your HVAC systems to save money in Lake of Ozarks, Missouri?

Well, many of you know I am full of useless information. However, sometimes my information can be a nugget of information that can save you money in the long run. Isn’t that a good thing to know?

We inspect properties all the time that are second homes. The homeowner thinking they are saving money turns off the HVAC system (whether summer or winter) to save on energy costs. Well let me share something with ya…..you’re not saving a dime.

A home is a living, breathing being. Built of materials both natural and manmade. These materials have an inherent ability to expand and contract, but they can only do so to a certain point. Heat and humidity make materials swell and expand. Cold makes materials contract. If you like making drywall repairs, re-caulking your trim, repainting the trim and walls – then by all means turn the thermostat way up in the summer and way down in the winter but I don’t recommend it.

A home’s comfort zone (as far as materials goes) is between 60 and 80 degrees. Turning that furnace down to 55 or as low as the thermostat will allow you to go will only pull the drywall seams away from each other, caulk around countertops and trim will only pull away and display gaps. Should the property loose power due to a winter storm, it isn’t long for the temps to plummet below freezing when it’s already in the 40’s in the house. We all know what happens when pipes freeze. All the excitement starts when they begin to thaw! Drywall repairs are time consuming and messy.   Then when you wish to “touch up” the paint – it proves to be impossible to match that spot and you end up repainting not just that area, but the wall or room. The summer months everyone is tempted to turn the A/C off to conserve dollars, but here again the repairs will surely cost you more than the few dollars each month leaving the A/C at 80 when you are absent.

So do yourself a favor and stay within that 20 degree variable year round and save yourself all the aggravation of repairs. Use that time to enjoy the lake – isn’t that why you have a second home here?

To learn more about HVAC inspections, contact our Pillar Premier Inspections today for more information.  Call Right Now To Schedule:  Lake of Ozarks – (573) 363-5511 or Springfield – (417) 893-0770