You might be wondering why we’re talking about furnace maintenance steps for spring and summer after reading the headline of this blog post, but bear with us!
Many homeowners are unaware that there are several simple strategies to reduce monthly and annual energy expenditures, one of which is to turn off or partially turn off the furnace during the warmer spring and summer months.
Furnace Maintenance: Things to Know
Maybe you read this and thought to yourself, “OK, all I have to do now is make sure my thermostat isn’t set on heat,” right? While this keeps the furnace turned off, it does not turn it off completely, which is what we’ll discuss next.
When we recommend that you turn off the gas line as well as the electrical power to your furnace once the warmer weather arrives, we mean that you should disconnect the gas line as well as the electrical power to the furnace so it doesn’t waste any energy in the future months.
How Does Your Furnace Use Energy During the Summer?
During the summer, if your furnace uses a pilot light to ignite the burners, that pilot light can waste energy. Because you don’t want your furnace to turn on unexpectedly during the summer, you don’t need to keep the pilot light burning gas. The pilot light will go out and stay out if you close the valve on the gas line to the furnace.
This can save approximately $50 a year, and while that doesn’t seem like much, it absolutely adds up over the furnace’s lifespan, and adds a layer of safety to your system too. Contact us for a free estimate for replacing your furnace.
Even gas furnaces have electrical components in them, too. This includes sensors that can needlessly draw on power through the spring and summer months. We recommend that you shut down the electrical power to the furnace through the breaker panel. This will prevent your furnace from turning on automatically due to someone accidentally (or purposefully) adjusting the thermostat settings, or due to a brief cold snap.
Furnace Maintenance Savings
This can save you about $50 per year, and while that may not seem like much, it adds up over the life of the furnace, and it also adds a layer of safety to your system.
Electric components can also be found in gas furnaces. This includes sensors that draw electricity inefficiently during the spring and summer months. We recommend that you turn off the furnace’s electrical power at the breaker panel. This will prevent your furnace from going on by accident (or on purpose) when the thermostat settings are changed, or if there is a brief cold spell.
Furnace Shutdown in Parts
So, what if your HVAC system includes a central air conditioning system? If this is the case, you should not switch off the furnace’s electrical power through the breaker. Both the furnace and the air conditioner use the same blower fan, electrical components, and are connected to the same electrical circuit in a central system. As a result, turning off the electricity will prevent you from using your air conditioner. However, we still advise turning off the gas supply to the furnace.
Do This Before Your Furnace Goes Into Hibernation!
We’re here to answer any questions you might have about turning off your furnace for the summer. But don’t forget to take care of any repair requirements you may have right now. If you put off furnace repairs at the end of the season, you may find yourself with a broken system when you need it next fall.
Furnace Maintenance in Metro Detroit
Three-G Mechanical provides heating and cooling services for your home or business and offers free bids on unit replacement. Contact us here to schedule service! We service a vast area of Metro Detroit. Call us at (800) 672-9546 to see if you’re in our service area.