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When to Turn Off Your Furnace in the Spring

There will come a point in spring where your furnace isn’t doing too much work to heat up your home. Instead, if it is a gas furnace with the pilot light on, it’s wasting energy. However, spring weather is relatively unpredictable, so you might wonder when exactly you should turn off your furnace, both for optimal comfort and energy efficiency. We’ll discuss how to make the call that it’s time to turn off the furnace in this blog. 

Why Turn Off Your Furnace in Spring?  

Since your furnace won’t even cycle on if the inside temperature is higher than what you’ve set on your thermostat, you may wonder why bother shutting it off at all? Here are a few good reasons: 

  • Warmer daytime temperatures will keep your home warmer, so you may end up wasting energy if it’s on.  
  • If your furnace is off, you will avoid accidentally heating your home due to thermostat problems, or if the kids play with the thermostat. 
  • It will end up lasting longer, saving you money on repairs and replacement costs. 

Important Tips to Keep in Mind 

If you have a central AC system, then you’ll be leaving your furnace on for the summer because it helps to circulate cool air throughout the house. But if you don’t and you want to take advantage of shutting off the furnace in the spring, here are some points to consider: 

  • Shut off the gas supply line to your pilot light, not just the thermostat
  • Check the area around the furnace and remove any debris  
  • Check your carbon monoxide detector
  • Check your furnace filter and replace it, if needed 
Helpful tips with lightbulb

It’s a Personal Decision 

So, you know that you should turn off your furnace, but when? Typically, you’ll want to monitor nighttime temperatures and only turn off the furnace when these are comfortable to you. That doesn’t mean outdoor temperatures have to be 20 degrees. Your home will retain daytime heat through most of the night. Instead, look for temperatures consistently above 7 degrees, or 10 degrees if you have colder than average flooring. Here in Chatham-Kent, nighttime temperatures usually hit this level in late May. 

However, if you want to save on energy costs, you can get away with turning your furnace off a bit earlier in the year. This is especially true for homes with big windows, especially south-facing windows. Your home will get hotter during the day and retain more of that warmth overnight. 

Want more information on how to maintain your furnace over the spring and summer months? Call the experts at Handy Bros ClimateCare for your furnace maintenance needs. 

Sources: 

Should I Turn Off My Furnace in Spring?
https://www.abccoolingheating.com/seasonal-furnace-shutdown
https://bellbroshvac.com/turn-furnace-off-summer-seasonal-hvac-questions/