The chill in the air is finally gone! It’s time to give your heating system time to wind down after several months.
Any appliance benefits from a little time off, just like we would! Keeping it on through warmer months might incur unnecessary utility bills.
You can save on energy costs and prolong your furnace’s lifespan by simply turning it off during summer!
How Do You Safely Turn a Gas Furnace OFF?
Most homeowners know to turn their furnaces off after winter. Sometimes, we think we can flip a switch and call it a day.
However, failing to turn certain components off can lead to dangerous gas leaks, unexpected utility costs, and other problems. Do we really need any other reason other than gas leaks?
Out of all the obvious reasons, avoiding a gas leak is the number one reason most homeowners shut heating systems off. A distant second is saving resources.
Can I Keep My Furnace ON All Year?
You may keep it on all year long. A furnace can run for as long as you wish. You don’t have to worry about paying unnecessary utility fees if you have the coveted money tree.
Given how erratic gas prices have become, who wants to risk it? There’s no telling how much your next electric or gas bill will be.
Keeping furnace systems on might interfere with your air conditioner, leading to skyrocketing energy costs! Unless you like it really warm or live in colder climates, a furnace might not do anything useful by staying on all summer.
Why Furnaces Should Be Switched OFF During Hotter Months
Besides serving a negligible purpose, you might hasten equipment life. We pay a lot for our heating systems and want them to last for as long as they were built to last.
A gas furnace has an average lifespan of fifteen to twenty years. No one wants to pay for premature replacement and repairs.
Cycling your furnace on and off appropriately helps you save money on heating repairs and other HVAC service costs.
Should I Turn My Furnace OFF Immediately?
Timing is everything! You should not just turn it off right away, not when the last snowflake just hit the ground.
There is an appropriate time to cycle your furnace off and shut its entire system down. Knowing when can save you from other problematic heating issues that warrant costly repairs.
Turning your furnace off when it’s still too cold outside may lead to hazardous condensation within your unit.
Condensation and Contamination
Before long, you might notice black dust forming around your air vents. That’s not dust!
Condensation leads to mold, and black mold is highly toxic. Allowing any condensation to form within your furnace may breed hazardous mold growth!
Mold remedy is costly but necessary! Mold can cause severe health conditions, and you must eliminate any remnants within your HVAC system.
A furnace system’s dark, humid, and isolated environment provides mold spores a prime location to settle and spread! Mold can quickly spread among furnace components, causing clogs and corrosion.
Black mold can saturate your furnace and cause total mechanical failure! Avoid these seemingly harmless habits like turning the furnace off as soon as winter is over to keep your entire furnace intact.
When to Turn Your Furnace OFF
Summers in Washington aren’t too hot but can be sweltering compared to winter! The drastic temperature shift is only separated by a quick spring season.
You should turn the furnace off when spring rolls around. However, you should only turn it off when internal and external temperatures begin to match.
The “right time” might feel like the time when it’s comfortable enough to go outdoors without a heavy jacket on. You may inspect your furnace for any visible condensation to help you gauge the perfect timing.
What Should I Do First?
The first thing you should always do is determine the right time. Once you know that, you save yourself the trouble of potentially dealing with dangerous consequences!
You may now turn your furnace off! While some furnaces may vary, each user may follow these general steps.
- Turn the Pilot Light off.
- Shut off the Gas Supply.
- Remember, your gas supply may cater to more than just your home heating system.
- Ensure your gas line’s other attachments are intact to avoid cutting your water heater and stove’s supply.
- Wipe off dust, dirt, and debris from external and other accessible components.
These three steps are simple yet critical for every user. Some of us think shutting the pilot light off is enough. However, there’s more to it than the pilot light!
What happens when there’s no fire to ignite the gas supply?
What You Should Do Next
After turning the pilot light off, you should always inspect your gas line. You must close the line connected to the furnace.
Manually closing the gas valve gives you peace of mind that automated systems can’t. In case of malfunctioning components, your gas valve may not automatically cut supply distribution.
Shutting all intake valves ensures your safety better.
Remember to give your furnace a wipe-down to prevent any moisture buildup from seeping into pipes and chambers. Mold spores find moist, warm, and dark furnace systems irresistible!
Moisture, condensation, and fuel residue may build up on or within your furnace, wreaking havoc and leading to unsanitary, unreliable, unstable, and inefficient heating systems.
Cleaning furnace components helps keep your furnace and your family safe.
Why You Shouldn’t Skip These Steps
No one skips turning the pilot light off. It’s the most necessary and obvious step in shutting your furnace down.
Some homeowners don’t see how important the succeeding steps are. If you have ever played a sport, you can appreciate the importance of following one great move with another.
Shutting of Supply Intake
Picture this:
Imagine if the greatest basketball player shot from outside the three-point line. It was near-perfect, and the release was perfectly timed!
There’s no way that shot won’t make it into the hoop! Still, as soon as the player gets his bearings back, he’s ready to make his next move regardless of the outcome.
Because no matter how much of a “sure shot” anything is, there is no way of guaranteeing any outcome 100%!
Just like the most expensive and innovative furnace cannot unequivocally guarantee your safety. No matter how “dependable” or “sensitive” safety sensors are, nothing can compare to manual inspection and assurance.
Just think of all that wasted gas! It defeats the purpose of turning off your furnace when you don’t need it.
Always look into your gas valves and other attachments. This prevents gas from being supplied to the burners without a pilot light to initiate ignition.
Gas that is released into pipes may enter your breathing air if there’s no means of ignition!
Cleaning Your Furnace
Without cleaning your furnace, you may expose it to many different pollutants.
Removing any stagnant residue and other debris saves your furnace from contamination, especially when the furnace filter is at its wit’s end. Yes, your furnace has an internal filter!
Your furnace filter works hard to ensure no components are hindered by pollutants. A clean furnace is an efficient and reliable heating system!
It doesn’t directly vet your breathing air for airborne pollutants. The furnace filter protects the interior from internal contamination.
It does nearly the same as any HVAC filter but focuses on keeping your furnace safe from hazardous contamination. A furnace filter prevents clogs and contamination, keeping all components clean and pristine.
You can safeguard your filter by sweeping off any dust that settles on your furnace. It’s also a good idea to clean or replace your furnace filters after every winter for extra precaution.
Preventative Furnace Maintenance
Remember the three golden rules:
- Turn your furnace off a few weeks into springtime when temperatures are warmer.
- Manually shut off the gas valve and pilot light.
- Clean your furnace, and cover it with a tarp for safekeeping.
Here’s an “additional step” in the process that may be the most helpful tip on how to turn your gas furnace off safely.
It’s advisable to call an expert HVAC technician to check on your furnace before and after winter.
It is a great way to ensure all the steps above are followed without taking too much time away from your day-to-day. Sure, you can clean or replace a furnace filter, but your heating system might need more than that!
You might do everything correctly but not know everything your furnace needs.
Who Can I Call for Furnace Maintenance in Mount Vernon, Washington?
You can always clean and replace furnace components. Cleaner heating systems uphold reliability and safety.
Still, nothing beats professional experience and expertise.
Your furnace might need more than a new furnace filter or gas valve. An expert heating specialist can inspect and evaluate your furnace to give it what it needs when it needs it.
A self-help article can only teach you so much. If you want to ensure safety and efficiency, call reliable HVAC contractors to inspect your heating systems.
CPI Plumbing & Heating
Want to learn more about your furnace? Get in touch with CPI specialists for expert advice.
We can also schedule an on-site visit for furnace inspection and evaluation.
If your furnace suffers from mechanical failure due to last winter’s blistering weather, our team can return it to its former glory! If your furnace is past its due expiration, we can help you upgrade your systems!
Need Furnace repair and replacement in Mount Vernon, WA? Call the CPI Team at (360) 822-9306
