Why You Should Completely Shut Down Your Furnace After Winter
Many homeowners unassumingly leave their furnaces running year-round. It’s not enough to simply switch your furnace to the “cool” or “off” setting; your furnace will still continue to use up energy this way. What you need to do is completely shut down your system so it doesn’t consume any gas or electricity.
Gas furnaces in particular will benefit from a full shut down. If you have a gas furnace, your unit will continue to burn natural gas in order to keep the pilot light on. This is convenient during the winter, when you need to quickly turn on your furnace. But keeping the pilot light on during the spring and summer is wasteful and can contribute to higher energy bills.
Both gas and electric furnaces also feature a series of sensors and other electrical components, which will continue to run throughout the year if your furnace isn’t completely shut off.
How to Properly Shut Down Your Furnace
Gas Furnaces
Keeping your gas furnace on during the hotter months can cost you about $50 each year. While this doesn’t seem like much, it can start to add up over the years and can end up costing hundreds of dollars in wasted energy.
Locate the gas valve to your furnace and turn it off. Make sure it’s the valve supplying your furnace and not your entire home. Once the valve is turned off, the pilot light will go out as well.
Electric Furnaces
Your electric furnace will continue to passively use up energy even when it’s set to “off.” To make sure it doesn’t become an “energy vampire,” you will need to cut off power to the circuit that’s connected to your furnace. Locate your home’s electrical panel and turn the appropriate circuit breaker off (just make sure that no other appliances are using that same circuit).
Maintaining Your Furnace After Winter
In addition to shutting down your furnace, there are additional tasks you can perform to make sure your system is well cared for even after winter is over.
- Keep the area around your furnace clear: Avoid storing items near your furnace to prevent fire hazards and airflow problems when it comes time to use your furnace again. We also recommend cleaning and vacuuming the area surrounding your furnace to keep dust and dirt from quickly clogging up the filter.
- Test your smoke and CO detectors: It’s a good idea to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (and replace the batteries) at least once a year to ensure your safety and peace of mind.
- Check the air registers: Take a look at the air registers throughout your home. Clear out any dust or debris to help your furnace function more efficiently come winter.
