During the warm, humid summers in Erie, PA you won’t need to use your gas furnace for several months. You may wonder whether or not you should turn it off. Turning off your furnace in the summer is in fact a good idea because it can reduce natural gas and electricity consumption, helping your furnace last longer and keep your home safer. Follow these steps to correctly turn off your furnace at the beginning of summertime.
Adjust the Thermostat
The first place to start when turning off your gas furnace is your thermostat. Switch the thermostat to the “cool” setting. If you leave the thermostat on “auto,” it could signal the furnace to turn on later. Switching your system over to cool means that if there’s an unusually cool night, your furnace won’t cycle.
Turn Off the Pilot
The second step in shutting down your furnace for the summer is turning off the pilot. A pilot that’s always on will use about $5 to $10 of natural gas or propane every month, even when it’s not performing a heating cycle. This is wasted energy and money. Shutting off the gas supply to the pilot reduces this waste of resources.
Shut Off the Furnace’s Power
The last step in shutting down your furnace is cutting off its power supply. If the furnace has a switch, flip it to the “off” position. Next, go to your fuse box or circuit breaker box. Locate the circuit for the furnace. Push it to the “off” position. All furnaces require electricity, including gas furnaces. With no power, the furnace won’t turn on.
J.J. Agnello Heating & Air Conditioning Inc is the trusted team for gas furnace maintenance in Erie. You can also count on us for air conditioning maintenance and heating repair and cooling repair, replacement and installation services. Our indoor air quality and duct cleaning services keep your home clean, comfortable and healthy all year long.
