Summers in Spokane, WA are warm, and you’re unlikely to need heating from your gas furnace. Even on a chilly night, your home will retain plenty of daytime warmth to keep you comfortable. For safety and savings, it’s a good idea to turn off your gas furnace in the summertime. Find out how much money you can save and how to go about shutting down your furnace for the summer season.
Save Money
Older furnaces have pilot lights that are always burning some gas. This constant use of gas adds about $5 to $10 onto your monthly natural gas bill. There’s also some wear and tear involved with the pilot, its sensor and the gas valve. Turning off your furnace saves money and cuts down on this wear and tear.
Start at the Thermostat
To turn off your furnace, start at the thermostat. Put it on the “cool” or “air conditioning” setting. If you leave it on auto, a chilly summer night could trigger a heating cycle. You may also want to reprogram your thermostat to account for your comfort preferences during the summertime.
Turn Off the Gas and Breaker
Next, locate the gas valve for the pilot. Turn it off. This will extinguish the pilot light. Find the furnace’s power switch. Most furnaces have one on the front or side of the unit, near the air handler. Finally, go to your circuit breaker and turn off the breaker that serves the furnace. In the autumn, our technicians can help you safely turn on the system again so that it’s ready when cooler weather arrives.
At NORCO Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re proud to offer reliable heating maintenance services. We also offer air conditioning maintenance and heating and cooling repair and replacement. Our electricians are ready to perform all of the electrical services you need for a safe and comfortable home. To learn more about why you should shut down your gas furnace for the summertime, get in touch with us at NORCO Heating & Air Conditioning.
