Summers are warm and humid in Smith Mountain Lake, VA, so you’re unlikely to need your gas furnace until autumn arrives. You may wonder whether or not it’s a good idea to turn off your gas furnace while you’re not using it. Here are a couple of reasons why it’s a smart decision to shut down the furnace and the steps you can take in order to do this safely.
Save Money
Older furnaces typically use a pilot light. These are always on and burning gas. Even when the furnace isn’t running, the pilot still burns a small amount of gas. By turning off the pilot and shutting down the furnace, you could lower your gas bills by $5 to $10 each month of the summer.
Reduce Wear and Tear
When the pilot is always on, this contributes to extra wear and tear on key parts of your gas furnace. Turning off the pilot and doing a shut-down of the furnace eliminates this unnecessary wear and tear. Your furnace may last longer if you shut it down for each summer season.
How to Shut Down Your Gas Furnace
Shutting down your gas furnace involves several simple steps. Go to your thermostat. Switch it to the “cool” setting. Next, locate the power switch for your furnace. Turn it off. Find the gas supply valve to the pilot. Turn the valve to stop the flow of natural gas. Finally, locate the circuit breaker for your furnace, and push it to the “off” position.
Roanoke Mechanical Heating & Cooling is Smith Mountain Lake’s trusted heating maintenance company. We also offer air conditioning maintenance and heating and cooling repair, installation, and replacement. Local homeowners also count on us for storage tank and tankless water heaters and boiler heating systems. If you’re a business owner in the Smith Mountain Lake area, we’re ready to provide you with quality commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services. For more details about why you should shut down your gas furnace during the summer season, contact us at Roanoke Mechanical Heating & Cooling today.
