Once I purchased my first home, I realized that I needed to do my part in caring for my home appliances. In addition to reading the user manuals for my kitchen appliances and state-of-the-art plumbing system, I realized that I also needed to do a little research about HVAC. Because I had no experience with HVAC systems, I called out a professional to teach me a thing or two. It was fascinating to talk with him, and I was able to take notes about all kinds of important topics, such as maintenance, troubleshooting, and even shopping for a new system. This blog is all about understanding HVAC guidelines.
Understanding HVAC Guidelines
2 Mistakes To Avoid When Shutting Down Your Gas Furnace At The End Of Winter
Marilou Girard
With winter coming to a close, you may be starting to take steps to get ready for the warmer weather of spring. As part of this effort, you may be thinking about shutting down your furnace. If so, make sure you avoid making the following mistakes while turning off your gas furnace at the end of winter.
1. Leaving the Last Air Filter in the Heater over the Summer
If you recently changed the heater's air filter, you may feel that there is no need to change it when you shut down the furnace. After all, you won't be using the furnace during the summer. And, since it may have only been a few weeks since you put the new one in, how dirty could it have gotten within that short time period?
Even if you do not see a lot of dirt or dust in the filter, it is still present. Plus, especially if you opened your windows at any time during a warm day, there is most likely unseen pollen mixed in with the debris.
You may think that you can simply change the filter right before you start up the furnace again the next fall. However, if you leave a dirty filter in your heater, the dirt, dust, and pollen will soak up any moisture in the air.
As the moist dirt accumulates, mold and mildew will start to grow, spreading spores throughout the furnace. Then, even if you change the filter before using it, you will still spread these allergens through the air.
2. Neglecting to Shut Down the Furnace's Pilot Light
If you have a gas furnace with a pilot light, you may neglect or simply forget to turn it off when closing down the heater. Not turning off the gas and powering down the electricity that feeds the furnace is a mistake that could wind up costing you a lot of money on monthly bills.
Although the pilot light is not very big, it does still draw gas to burn. Also, the thermocouple that controls the height of the flame and the amount of gas that feeds it runs on electricity. If you keep either of these going through the spring and summer months, you are needlessly paying money for things you are not using. If you are unsure of how to turn off your pilot light, speak with an HVAC professional to have them either guide you through the process or do the task for you.
Avoiding the above mistakes can help you properly shut down your gas furnace for the warm weather season so that it is ready to once fall and winter arrive. If you find any issues or need more information about maintaining your furnace, contact an HVAC contractor like Dual Temp Co Inc in your area.
Share