The best HVAC settings while away in Beaumont are simple: leave the air conditioning on, set the thermostat a few degrees warmer than your normal setting, and keep the fan on “Auto.” Turning the system off completely lets heat and Gulf humidity build up inside, and that moisture is harder on your home than the few degrees of cooling you’d save. A quick check of the filter and drain line before you leave makes the whole trip easier.
The Texas Rice Festival in Winnie runs September 30 through October 3, and plenty of Golden Triangle families will be gone for a day or the whole long weekend. Early October in Southeast Texas still feels like summer most afternoons, so your AC is doing real work while you’re gone. Here’s how to set it up so you come home to a comfortable house. If you’d rather have a technician look the system over first, our maintenance team can do that before you pack the car.
Why You Shouldn’t Turn the AC Off While You’re Away
It’s tempting to switch the system off when nobody’s home. In a drier part of the country, that might be fine. In Beaumont, Winnie, Port Arthur and the rest of Southeast Texas, humidity is the bigger issue.
Your air conditioner doesn’t just cool the air. It also pulls moisture out of it. When the system sits off for a few warm days, indoor humidity climbs, and damp air settles into carpet, furniture, closets and drywall. That’s how homeowners come back from a trip to a musty smell, sticky floors or condensation on windows and vents.
A system that has to recover from a hot, humid house also works much harder when you get home. It can take hours to pull the temperature and moisture back down, and that long, hard run is not what you want from equipment that just came through a Texas summer.
Thermostat Settings While Away in Southeast Texas
For a trip of one to four days, these thermostat settings while away in Southeast Texas work well for most homes. Think of it as your vacation thermostat setting in the Golden Triangle: warm enough to ease the load, cool enough to keep humidity in check.
- Cooling mode, not off. Keep the system in “Cool” so it can still manage heat and humidity.
- A few degrees above your usual setting. If you normally keep the house at 74, something in the upper 70s to around 80 is a reasonable range. Go no higher than you’d be comfortable walking into.
- Fan on “Auto,” not “On.” In Auto, the fan stops when the cooling cycle stops, which lets moisture drain off the indoor coil instead of blowing back into the house.
- Hold or vacation mode. If your thermostat has a hold or vacation setting, use it so a daily schedule doesn’t kick back in while you’re gone.
If you have pets staying home, set the temperature for them, not for an empty house. The same goes for homes with aquariums, houseplants or anything else that doesn’t handle heat well.
For more on seasonal temperatures, our guide to the best thermostat settings for Texas summer covers the day-to-day side.
Humidity Control While Away in Beaumont
Temperature is only half of it. Humidity control while away in Beaumont matters just as much, especially after a rainy stretch.
A few things help:
- Close windows and doors tightly, including garage doors that open into the house.
- Keep interior doors open so air can move between rooms and the system isn’t fighting stale, closed-off spaces.
- Run the bathroom exhaust fan after the last showers before you leave, then switch it off.
- Don’t leave damp laundry or towels in the washer or hamper.
If your home fights humidity even when you’re there, the setting on the wall may not be the whole answer. Options like a whole-house dehumidifier or UV light at the evaporator coil, offered through our indoor air quality services, are designed for exactly that problem.
A 10-Minute Pre-Trip AC Check in Southeast Texas
Before you head out for Winnie or anywhere else, run through this quick pre-trip AC check in Southeast Texas. None of it requires tools or opening up equipment.
- Look at the air filter. If it’s gray or clogged, replace it. A dirty filter restricts airflow and makes the system work harder while you’re gone.
- Check the condensate drain area. If you can see the indoor unit, look for water in the drain pan or on the floor around it. Standing water there is a sign the drain line may be backing up.
- Walk around the outdoor unit. Clear leaves, branches and yard items away from it so it can breathe.
- Listen for anything new. Grinding, squealing, rattling or a loud buzz from the outdoor unit are worth a call before you leave, not after you’ve already left town.
- Confirm the thermostat settings. Make sure it’s set to Cool, at the temperature you chose, with the fan on Auto and hold or vacation mode on.
If anything on that list looks off, it’s easier to deal with before the trip than to come home to a warm house.
Storm Season Is Still Here
Hurricane season runs through November 30, and early fall storms can still roll through the Golden Triangle with little warning. If a strong storm is in the forecast while you’re away, it’s worth asking a neighbor to keep an eye on the house.
If the power goes out and comes back on while you’re gone, most systems restart on their own. When you get home, check that the thermostat still shows the right mode and temperature. If there was any flooding near the outdoor unit, don’t turn the system on. Have a technician check it first. Our post on how to protect your HVAC during summer storms goes into more detail.
Coming Home: Getting Back to Normal
When you get back, set the thermostat to your normal temperature and give the system time to catch up. It’s normal for it to run longer than usual for the first few hours.
Watch for a few warning signs as it recovers:
- The house isn’t getting cooler after a couple of hours
- Air from the vents feels warm or weak
- Water around the indoor unit
- Ice on the refrigerant lines or outdoor unit
- A musty or burning smell
Any of those deserves a call. Thermacon offers 24/7 emergency AC repair, so you don’t have to wait until Monday if the AC won’t cool after a weekend away.
Planning Ahead for the Rest of Fall
A long weekend away is a good reminder that your system still has a lot of work ahead. AC often runs into October in Southeast Texas, and then the first real cold fronts usually arrive between October and November. That’s why fall is the time for a heating inspection.
Our Energy Savings Club includes a Spring and Fall Tune-Up, inspection and cleaning of the outdoor and evaporator coils and heat exchangers, and priority service. Booking the fall visit before you travel means one less thing to think about when the weather finally turns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I turn off my AC when I leave for a long weekend in Southeast Texas?
No. In Beaumont and the rest of the Golden Triangle, it’s better to leave the AC on in Cool mode and set it a few degrees warmer. That keeps humidity under control so you don’t come home to a damp, musty house.
What temperature should I set my thermostat to while I’m away in Beaumont?
Most homes do well somewhere in the upper 70s to around 80 while nobody’s home. If pets or plants are staying behind, set it for their comfort instead.
Should the fan be on “On” or “Auto” while I’m gone?
Auto. With the fan on Auto, moisture that collects on the indoor coil has time to drain away between cycles. With the fan on On, some of that moisture gets blown back into the house.
What should I do if my AC isn’t cooling when I get home from a trip?
Check that the thermostat is set to Cool and that the filter isn’t clogged. If the house still isn’t cooling after a couple of hours, or you see ice or water around the equipment, turn the system off and call a technician.
Travel Easy, Come Home Comfortable
Thermacon Service Company has kept Beaumont, Port Arthur and Golden Triangle homes comfortable since 1980. Our NATE-certified technicians service all makes and models, and we’re available 24/7 for emergency heating and AC repair. If you’d like your system checked before your trip or your fall tune-up on the calendar, call (409) 832-8686 or schedule service online.