(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — It’s that time of year when a lot of us start cranking the heat to stay toasty, but is it better to have the heater turn off when you leave or just leave it on? Well, it depends on what your goal is for your home.

When it comes to strictly saving money, it is better to turn the heat down or off when you are not at home and then turn it back on again when you walk through the door. Just keep in mind that the temperature needs to be warm enough so the pipes don’t freeze. You can do this by having a smart thermostat to turn the heat down at the right time.

If you are looking to prevent energy and heat loss, take the low-and-slow approach. If you leave it on low, it is noteworthy that your heating system will provide some heat when you’re gone and does not need to run as long or as often to bring the temperature back up to a comfortable level when you return. Therefore, you won’t have a frigid house when you come back.