Temperatures here in Michigan have not yet felt so “spring-y”, however, our calendars state that the first official day of spring was March 20th, which means that warmer temperatures are on their way. Of course, the start of spring gets all of us thinking about summer, a time when there is not much need for our furnaces. We aren’t recommending you shut down your furnace just yet, as it is still quite chilly outside, but it is still worth knowing what to do with your furnace when the time finally does come.
Whether you own an old or new furnace in Grand Rapids, it is important to know what to do with it when summer arrives. So below, we have provided a sort of quick guide, if you will. If you are unsure about what to do with your furnace this summer, be sure to keep reading below!
Your Guide to Summertime Furnace Care
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 your home is lacking a sufficient amount to keep your home warm on a chilly night. Temperatures here can drop into the 50s on a summer 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 degrees.
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 system 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 need assistance prepping your furnace for summer, don’t hesitate to contact the team at GRmetro Heating & Cooling.
