Many Canadians take advantage of the warmer months to go camping, visit family, and travel the world. During the winter, Canadians don’t have the option to just turn off their utilities and leave. The harsh cold would lead to frozen and burst pipes, and all sort of problems would arise. However, there is less potential risk in summer. The furnace generally won’t turn on anyways during these warmer months, and you definitely won’t need any hot water. So what should Canadians do and not do to save energy during their vacation? Here is some energy saving tips during vacation.
Don’t Turn Off the Hot Water Heater.
Sorry for the bait and switch, but unfortunately turning down your water heater isn’t an option. In order to prevent bacteria growth, you need to keep the tank very warm. If you want to save money in the future, we’d recommend investing in a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters won’t waste energy keeping 20 gallons of water hot while you’re gone for 2 weeks, and Efficiency Alberta is currently offering Albertans a $1000 rebate if they invest in an energy-efficient tankless heater. It’s an offer we definitely recommend taking advantage of, especially if your water tank is near or over 10 years old.
Do Not Turn Off Your Furnace.
We recommend setting your thermostat to around 10°C. There’s no need for it to kick in just because the summer heat drops a bit, but you also don’t want anything to freeze if we get struck by a midsummer flash blizzard. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Unplug your television, computers, and anything else that is typically left plugged in. It may surprise you, but even when devices are turned off, they continue to draw power from the outlet. In fact, unplugging devices you aren’t using or charging is a good idea even if you’re not on vacation. Many Calgarians find their electricity bill dips by 5-10%. While you’re unplugging the internet modem, you may also want to pause your services with your provider if you’ll be gone a month or more.
We love travelling in the summer. There’s nothing like a day trip to the Rockies or a weekend camping in the woods. Before you head out on a long trip, remember to make sure all your taps are closed tightly and there aren’t any leaks. If you need any help getting your furnace, hot water tank, or plumbing prepared for your vacancy, contact our expert Calgary plumbers. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and point you in the right direction.
Call us at (403) 452-2911 or Book Now an appointment.
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