Caring for Your Furnace as We Go into Summer

You’d be hard pressed to find a Canadian who doesn’t appreciate their furnace during the winter months. But as the snow melts away and summer slowly returns once more to Calgary, how should you be caring for your furnace to ensure optimal efficiency and longevity? Does it need any care during the warmer months? Does it even need to be on? Do you still have to change your furnace filter? We’ll answer all these questions in this article.

Summer Furnace Inspection.

Your furnace has kept you warm all winter, and now it’s time to have it inspected. Our technicians will be able to tell you whether there’s been any wear or tear you should consider repairing, and answer any questions on its general state. We’ll also be able to tell you whether your furnace is part of a forced air system.

Can I Turn My Furnace Off?

Yes. If the weather is warm enough that you’re comfortable in your home and your pipes are in no danger of freezing, you can turn your furnace off. However, if your furnace is part of a forced air system with central air conditioning, you’ll need to leave your furnace running during the summer in order to use your A/C. This is because your A/C actually uses all the same vents to distribute cool air, and it also runs air through your furnace filter to remove dust that could damage your A/C appliance.

Further, this advice is only for furnaces. If you heat your house using hot water or another method, turning off your boiler or other heating method may have unintended consequences.

Stay On Top of Filter Changes.

When your furnace is in use, the filter needs to be changed ever 1-3 months at a minimum. If you aren’t sure how frequently your furnace filter should be changed, ask our technician during your furnace inspection. We would be happy to look it up for you.

One question we hear all the time is: do I need to change my furnace filter during the summer?

It depends! If you have a forced air system with central A/C, and you’re leaving your HVAC system running, then yes, you will need to change the furnace filter during the summer. On the other hand, if you don’t have central A/C, you can turn your furnace off for the next couple months. If your furnace is off, you do not need to change the filter.

Energy Savings for Turning Off Your Furnace.

We love to help Canadians to save money on their energy bill. Which is why we want you to know that if your pilot light is on, your furnace is still costing you money even if it isn’t otherwise running. If you won’t be using central A/C, have your technician turn off the gas and shut down your furnace during your summer furnace inspection. It’ll save you at least $50 in energy costs, and you won’t need to worry about your teens burning even more money by turning up the thermostat during the middle of July because they don’t want to put on a sweater.

Canadians depends on their furnaces from October until May, but during the hot months, there’s no reason not to shut it off (unless you have central A/C). Call our team at Plumbing Paramedics today to schedule your summer furnace inspection, and have our friendly technician safely turn off your furnace & gas line to save you money until the fall chill returns at the end of September.