Should I turn AC off when leaving for a few days?

Leaving an air conditioner completely off while away for a few days can lead to excessive indoor humidity, which encourages mold growth and damages indoor materials. Instead of shutting it down, adjusting the thermostat to a higher temperature—such as 85 degrees Fahrenheit—keeps the system operating just enough to manage moisture and protect the home. When returning, the system will not have to work as hard to pull the humidity and heat out of the space, saving energy compared to cooling a completely stagnant, hot house back down from scratch.