Can you feel it? Spring is in the air! The bees are buzzing, flowers are blooming, and from every home, you can hear the sound of air conditioners whirring. But just because it’s your air conditioner’s turn in the spotlight doesn’t mean that you can just go off and forget about your furnace!
There are a number of steps you should take in order to ensure that your furnace is protected during the summer, and below, we have listed them for you. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more, and of course, remember to call our team when you need Moorseville furnace repairs or maintenance.
Here’s What You’ll Do
To help prep your furnace, just follow these simple steps:
Step One: Take care of repairs!
Before you shut down your furnace for the year, be sure to take care of any outstanding repairs. We know you might be thinking, “What’s the point?”, however, scheduling your repairs now prevents issues from growing worse and preps your system for the following winter.
Step Two: Consider if there will be a need to turn the furnace on during the summer
Not all homes are built with the same level of insulation, which can be problematic if yours is lacking a sufficient amount to keep you warm on a chilly night. Temperatures here can drop into the 50s on a spring night, so it just may be that some of you will still need to use your furnace to keep warm. If this is the case, be sure to program your thermostat so that the furnace only turns on if the temperature drops to around 50°F.
Step Three: Shutting down your system
If you’ve decided that you will not be using your furnace at all during the summer, then it is time to shut it down. But, first, you must consider the type of furnace you’re using:
- Electric furnaces: If you own an electric furnace, there is no need to shut it down, as it will not consume any fuel while it is not in use. Simply stop using it and you won’t have to worry about paying for heat.
- Natural gas furnace with electric ignition: These types of systems will not use any extra gas over the summer, therefore it is fine to simply stop using the furnace rather than shut it down entirely. The only exception is if you plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time, as it is safer to just shut down any gas appliances you may own.
- Natural gas furnace: If you own a natural gas furnace that uses a standing pilot light, then we recommend shutting the system down entirely. If you don’t do this, the pilot light will continue to burn, which is definitely a waste of gas and energy.
If you have any questions about taking care of your furnace in the summer, do not hesitate to contact the team at Ace Hardware Home Services Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.