Electrical gadgets in a home consume energy at all times, whether or not the house is occupied. This is why it's critical to take the necessary procedures to prepare a property for being vacant when it isn't occupied for an extended time. In addition, you can do a few things to save energy and money while you're away.

1) Turn off your water heater.

Using a water heater can account for up to 25% of a home's energy cost. Whether or not the house is occupied, the heating components in a water heater require electricity to keep the water in the tank hot. Turn off the water heater at the electric panel if the house won't be occupied for an extended period. When you get back, turn the same breaker back on. Allow the water heater to recharge for several hours. Drain pipes that will hold water are positioned outside the heated portion of the home during the winter. Make sure the water heater's thermostat is set at 120°F.

2) Turn down your thermostat.

Set all of the thermostats in the house to 50°F - 55°F before you leave. Pipes will not freeze this way, and energy will not be squandered, keeping an empty house warm and comfy.

A thermostat does not turn off the heating system in the residence. It's a timer that tells the heater when to turn on. Even if the house is unoccupied, a heater will use electricity to keep the house warm.

3) Unplug your fridge.

Refrigerators and freezers are domestic appliances that consume energy whether or not the house is occupied. Consider defrosting and unplugging the refrigerator and freezer if the house will be vacant for an extended period. If you do this, prop the doors open to prevent mildew from forming. If you don't want to defrost or disconnect the refrigerator, fill it with gallon jugs of water. This will improve the refrigerator's efficiency. Thermal energy will be stored in cold water in the jars. In a cooler, it'll be like having "ice cubes." While you're gone, try adjusting the refrigerator's temperature, depending on the contents.

4) Unplug electronics.

"Instant-On" functions and small clocks are found on many TVs, DVD players, surround sound systems, and other consumer goods. These features are constantly draining energy. However, this can be deceiving because the device appears to be shut off. Unplug them from the wall if you'll be gone for an extended period. This will ensure that they aren't wasting electricity while not in use.

5) Close your curtains.

Closing the drapes in the house adds an extra layer of insulation between the outside and inside air. It can also improve the home's security.

6) User timers for lights.

Install timers, photocell day/night sensors, or photocell LED bulbs in exterior fixtures if you want to leave lights on for security. This will ensure that electricity is only consumed when it is needed for home protection.

7) Monitor your usage.

Using the PowerX sensors, you can keep track of your daily water, electricity and water heater usage from your phone. Our PowerX Water Heater sensor can auto-regulate your water heater AND allow you to turn off your water heater from the mobile app. You can even set a schedule on how long the water heater is off and when it turns back on, so if you're going away for a week or a long weekend simply use the PowerX app to set your vacation dates and enjoy the savings while you are gone. Monitoring your usage on a daily and weekly basis will help you spot any problems with your energy consumption not only while you are at home but also while you are away!

Our knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to assist you in better understanding your usage.

PowerX provides fully automated smart home monitoring solutions using the energy-efficient LoRa connectivity standard. Our system helps you monitor and optimize energy consumption and proactively avoid disasters like major leaks. Get in touch today to find out more.