Warmer weather is just around the corner and if this is your first summer in our drier climate, you may be wondering if you should shut off your furnace pilot light. There are just a few things to ask yourself before you decide. Our experienced and knowledgeable technicians at Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electric have a few things you may want to consider first:
Is your furnace located in an area that is near moisture (like your washing machine’s drain)?
Does your home use a Swamp Cooler?
Do you know how to relight the pilot light?
Is your furnace in an area that may see a lot of insect activity?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, turning off the pilot light may not be a good idea. If your furnace is located near an area that sees any type of moisture, and your home uses a swamp cooler, your furnace pilot light will keep things inside the furnace dry. This is crucial for the overall efficiency of your unit. One of our biggest concerns when you shut off your pilot light, is the presence of moisture. The heat your furnace does produce when you leave the pilot light on prevents moisture from creating corrosion and rust on your furnace.
If your biggest concern is saving money on your gas bill, Affordable Service wants you to know that a running pilot light costs pennies a day and if you shut it off, it may only save you about $50 a year. If, for any reason you believe the pilot light needs to be shut off but you don’t know how to re-light it, give us a call at 505-255-4328 and we can schedule one of our technicians to come out and answer any of your questions.
If you’re thinking it’s time to replace your furnace or HVAC system while the weather is warm, be sure to call Affordable Service for a free in-home estimate. We also offer up to $1500 in rebates when you upgrade to the Carrier brand of highly efficient, energy saving systems that Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electric have to offer. Call us today!
