Our short answer to this is, “it’s not a bad idea!”
Of course, before you end the use of your furnace for the season, it’s a good idea to take care of any pending needs for furnace repair in Buford, GA. Letting a furnace in disrepair sit in wait can lead to much bigger and costlier problems than you might anticipate.
Assuming you’ve taken care of repair needs, shutting down your furnace once temperatures warm up enough to do so can help cut down on energy costs. Read on to learn more!
What We Mean By Furnace Shutdown
You may be thinking, “Well, of course, I will turn off the furnace during warmer weather. All I need to do is ensure the thermostat is set so the heat won’t cycle on.”
That’s not actually shutting down your furnace, however. That is just keeping the furnace turned off. When we suggest that you shut down your furnace once the warmer spring and summer temps come, we mean for you to cut off the gas line and/or electrical power to the furnace. This way you can save energy over the season.
“Wait, My Furnace Uses Energy Even When It’s Not Running?”
Do you have a furnace that uses a pilot light to ignite the burners? Then, yes, the pilot light will waste energy during the spring and summer months. You won’t need your furnace to suddenly turn on in the middle of summer, and therefore there is no reason to keep the pilot light burning gas throughout that time.
Shut the valve on the gas line for your furnace, and the pilot light will go out and stay out. The savings you experience can add up to hundreds over the lifespan of your furnace system. Besides, cutting off the gas to your furnace when it isn’t in use is a good safety precaution, too.
A gas furnace has some electrical components, too, like sensors. These needlessly draw on the power through the warmer months as well. We suggest that you shut down the electrical power to the furnace through the breaker panel. This will also prevent the furnace from turning on automatically because of something playing around with the thermostat settings.
You Can Do a Partial Furnace Shutdown
If you have a central air conditioning system as part of your HVAC system, then it doesn’t make sense to turn off the electrical power to the furnace through the breaker panel. In a central HVAC system with a furnace and air conditioning system, both use the same blower fan and electrical components. Turning off the electrical power will also turn off the AC.
If you have a gas-powered furnace though, you can still do a partial furnace shutdown by shutting off the gas line.
One Last Reminder
Remember, if you ignored repair needs or skipped maintenance this past fall, it’s a good idea to have your furnace inspected by a professional. It’s never too late for maintenance, unless your furnace has completely broken down altogether. It’s a lot less likely for this to happen when you have it properly maintained each year, and keep up on any repair needs that arise.
For expert HVAC services contact Wall Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today!