As the summer approaches, it will be time to put your furnace to rest. During the summer, many people prefer to keep their windows open for fresh air and warmth. When to turn off your furnace, and for how long, is a confusing issue. Here is a detailed piece to help you make an informed decision.
1. Should I Turn Off My Furnace In The Summer?
It’s a good idea to turn off your furnace during hot months. If left on, it will continue to consume energy. The furnace contains some electrical components like sensors that can needlessly draw power throughout the summer. If your furnace has a pilot light, it will use up unnecessary gas during summer when left on.
2. How To Turn Your Furnace Off
You might think you have switched off your unit by turning the thermostat settings to cool the house. While this stops the furnace from working, it won’t shut it down. You should ensure that you cut off the gas line and the electric supply to avoid wasting energy.
Wait until spring, when there is consistent warm weather, to turn off the furnace. Begin by turning off the pilot light by switching the knob to the off position. Next, shut off the main gas supply. However, be careful to avoid cutting off the gas supply to your water heater or stoves that use natural gas.
If you have a central air conditioner unit as part of your HVAC system, don’t shut off electric power as the AC and furnace share the same electrical components.
3. When To Turn The Furnace Off
First, determine whether or not the summer climate in your region still brings cold nights. It’s a bad idea to turn off your furnace in such environments since you might need to use it on nights where temperatures start to dip.
If you live in areas that experience warm temperatures all day and night, consider turning off the furnace during summer. And, if you don’t live in the house full time, it would be best to turn off the furnace during summer to save energy.
4. Benefits of Turning Your Furnace Off
Turning the furnace off will help you save on electric bills. People whose gas companies charge a minimum monthly fee may choose to keep the furnace on even when not in use. This is because they believe that the pilot light won’t burn too much gas to exceed the minimum charge. Although you won’t see considerable savings in your summer bills by turning off the furnace in this case, it helps save natural resources, which is good for the environment.
If you have an older furnace, turning it off when not in use can be very beneficial. A continuously burning pilot light can produce moisture in the hot summer months, which will make your house more humid. When you turn off the furnace, you won’t have to worry about your house heating up should anyone fiddle with the thermostat.
5. Drawbacks of Turning The Furnace Off
The only challenge of turning off the furnace during winter is that you will need to relight it in the summer. It might be challenging, especially if you don’t know how to. Luckily you can always call a professional HVAC technician to help you. Again, newer furnace models have electronic ignition, so your furnace will light quickly without depending on the pilot light.
Conclusion
When seasons change, homeowners look forward to finding new opportunities to save on expenditure. One great way to save on bills during the summer is by turning off the furnace. When you shut down the furnace, you should schedule maintenance before turning it back on when it starts to get cold. Note that, as your system sits dormant for several months, it may accumulate dirt and other particles that may cause issues when you turn it back on. Have a technician inspect the pilot light, change the filters and clean the entire unit to ensure that it’s in proper working condition.
If you need professional furnace maintenance, don’t hesitate to reach out to True Heating & Cooling. We offer various services including AC, furnaces, boilers, heat pump installation, repair, and maintenance. Our company also deals with hydronic systems, indoor air quality testing, and mini-splits system services. You can access our services if you live in Broomfield, CO, and the surrounding areas. Call us today and book an appointment to enjoy our exceptional services.