How to Lower Energy Costs While Away From Home (4 Settings to Adjust)

TL;DR: Before leaving home for more than three days, set your thermostat to 50°F in winter or 85°F in summer, lower your water heater to vacation mode or 120°F, unplug phantom-load devices, and turn your refrigerator to a warmer setting if it's mostly empty. These four changes can cut your weekly utility bill by $50–100.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 6 min read_

An empty house still pays full utility bills unless you adjust a handful of settings before you leave. Most landlords and homeowners lose $50–100 per week heating, cooling, and running appliances no one is using.

Okoniq Property Hub lets you log energy settings and service dates so you know exactly when you last adjusted the water heater or replaced the thermostat battery.

Should you turn off your thermostat completely when away?

No—turn it down in winter or up in summer, but never off. Setting a thermostat to "off" in freezing weather risks burst pipes; in summer, indoor humidity above 60% invites mold inside walls and attics. The safe winter setpoint is 50–55°F, which keeps pipes above freezing while cutting heating costs by 10–15% per week. In summer, raise the cooling setpoint to 85°F; the compressor will cycle far less often, saving 15–20% on AC costs, and indoor humidity will stay below the mold threshold if your home is reasonably sealed.

A programmable or smart thermostat makes this trivial: schedule "away" mode for your travel dates, and the system returns to normal the day you're back. If you still have a manual dial, write the current setting on masking tape before you adjust it so you remember where to return it. Never rely on memory after a week away—most people forget and leave the system in vacation mode for days after they return, which erases half the savings when they have to catch up on heating or cooling.

For properties you visit seasonally, closing a seasonal home for winter covers the full winterization checklist, including draining water lines and shutting off the main if you'll be gone more than a month.

How much does lowering the water heater save?

A traditional tank water heater cycles on every hour to maintain 140°F, even when no one is home. Lowering it to 120°F or switching to "vacation" mode cuts standby heat loss by 10–15%, saving $8–12 per week for a 50-gallon gas tank. Tankless heaters draw no standby power, so turning them off completely wastes nothing—but if yours has a pilot light, consult the manual; some models take 20 minutes to relight and purge air from the gas line.

Most water heaters have a dial near the bottom or a digital panel. "Vacation" mode holds the tank at 50–60°F, preventing freezing but not maintaining showering temperature. If your model lacks that setting, turn the dial to the lowest mark or 120°F, wait four hours, then check the temperature at a tap with a thermometer—most dials are inaccurate by 10°F. Document the original setting in Okoniq Property Hub so you restore it the day you return; running a cold tank back up to 140°F takes six hours and feels endless when you want a hot shower after a flight.

Tankless gas units have a power switch or a breaker; flip it off if you'll be gone more than five days. Electric tankless heaters pull 8–12 kW when firing; unplugging them for a week saves $15–25 depending on your rate.

What should you unplug to stop phantom loads?

Phantom loads—devices drawing power while "off"—cost the average household $100–200 per year, or roughly $4–8 per week. Unplug or switch off power strips for TVs, cable boxes, game consoles, desktop computers, printers, and countertop appliances (toaster, coffee maker, microwave if the clock isn't critical). Leave the refrigerator, security system, and any timer-controlled lights plugged in.

A single cable box draws 15–30 watts 24/7, which is 10–22 kWh per week—$1.50–3.00 at typical residential rates. Multiply that by three or four devices and you're at $6–12 saved per week just by hitting a power strip switch. Label each strip with masking tape ("Living Room TV") so you remember what to turn back on when you return; it's faster than hunting for remotes and troubleshooting why the Wi-Fi router won't reconnect.

Desktop computers in sleep mode still pull 5–10 watts; gaming consoles in standby mode pull 10–15 watts waiting for a controller press. Shut them down fully and unplug, or use a smart plug that cuts power on a schedule. Battery chargers for phones, laptops, and power tools draw 0.5–2 watts even with nothing attached—unplug the whole charging station if you're meticulous. For properties with multiple units, childproofing electrical outlets also reviews which outlets are worth switching to timer or occupancy-sensor control.

Can you adjust the refrigerator if it's mostly empty?

Yes, if the refrigerator is more than half empty, turn the thermostat dial from the usual "5" to "3" (or from 37°F to 40°F on a digital model). An empty fridge has less thermal mass, so the compressor cycles more often to hold 37°F; raising the setpoint to 40°F cuts runtime by 10–15% and still keeps food safe—USDA guidelines allow up to 40°F for short-term storage. A week at 40°F won't spoil butter, condiments, or beverages.

If you're emptying the fridge completely for a longer trip, unplug it, prop the door open with a towel, and remove all perishables. A closed, unplugged fridge grows mold within five days from trapped humidity. An open, unplugged fridge uses zero watts and dries out naturally. For week-long trips, this move alone saves $3–5, which is marginal, but it adds up if you travel monthly. Document the setting and the date in Okoniq so you remember to return it to "5" (or 37°F) the day you restock.

Freezers can stay at their normal setting (0°F) unless they're less than a quarter full; in that case, consolidate items into one zone, turn off the second zone if it's a dual-zone model, or leave it alone if moving food is more hassle than the $2 you'd save. Never unplug a standalone freezer unless you're emptying it fully—refreezing a thawed freezer costs more in wasted food than you saved in electricity.

Should you adjust lighting or leave timers running?

Leave one or two lights on a timer to cycle at dusk and dawn for security, but turn off every other interior light manually. A 60-watt incandescent bulb left on 24/7 for a week uses 10 kWh ($1.50 at $0.15/kWh); LED bulbs use one-sixth of that, so the math is gentler, but there's no reason to light an empty house. Exterior lights on dusk-to-dawn photocells are fine—they're already automated and use 9–14 watts for LED floods.

Programmable timers cost $8–15 and plug into any outlet; set them to flip a lamp on at 7 p.m. and off at 11 p.m. to mimic occupancy. If you already have smart bulbs, schedule them through the app and monitor from your phone. Never leave incandescent bulbs on timers in contact with fabric (lampshades, curtains)—they run hot enough to ignite after hours of unattended use. Swap to LED before you leave if the fixture is older.

For attics and basements, confirm no lights were left on by walking every floor before you lock up. Attic ventilation balance explains why a bulb left on in a sealed attic can raise the space temperature by 15–20°F, which forces your AC to work harder even when you're gone.

FAQ

How cold can I let my house get in winter without risking pipes?

Keep the thermostat at 50°F minimum if your home has plumbing in exterior walls or an unheated crawlspace. Homes with all pipes in conditioned spaces can go to 45°F, but 50°F is the safer universal floor. Pipes typically freeze at 20°F ambient when there's no heat source nearby.

Will turning off the water heater damage it?

No. Modern tank heaters are designed to be turned off and back on without harm. Just avoid flipping the breaker on and off daily—let it sit in vacation mode or off for the full trip, then restore settings when you return. Sediment won't settle faster in a cold tank over one week.

Should I unplug my Wi-Fi router to save energy?

Only if you don't need remote security cameras, smart locks, or thermostat access. A router and modem together pull 10–20 watts, which is $0.30–0.60 per week. If you're monitoring the house remotely, leave them on. If you're fully unplugged, turn them off and save the dollar.

How much does it cost to heat or cool an empty house for a week?

A 2,000-square-foot home in a moderate winter climate uses 300–500 kWh of heating per week at normal setpoints, which is $45–75 at $0.15/kWh. Dropping the thermostat to 50°F cuts that to 250–400 kWh, saving $8–15. Summer AC at 72°F uses 200–350 kWh per week; raising to 85°F cuts it to 150–250 kWh, saving $8–18.

Can I adjust these settings remotely if I forgot?

Only if you have smart devices. A smart thermostat lets you change setpoints from an app. A smart plug can cut power to a water heater if it's electric and you put the plug in line with the breaker panel (not common). For gas water heaters and manual thermostats, you'll need a neighbor or property manager to visit. Log a reminder in Okoniq the week before you leave so you don't forget next time.

This is educational information, not financial or HVAC advice. For system-specific guidance, consult your appliance manuals and an HVAC technician if you're uncertain about safe setpoint ranges.