School’s out, cottages are opened, and vacation plans have been made. Spending less time at home means many people have less need for heat and hot water in the summer months. So, does it make sense to turn hot water furnaces completely off at this time of year?
While it seems like the perfect opportunity to maximize energy savings by using less oil, turning your hot water furnace off in the summer can lead to potential problems with your furnace that can far exceed any savings you might realize with reduced fuel consumption.
Here’s what can happen.
When hot water inside a furnace drops to basement temperature, the rubber gaskets will contract. These gaskets can leak water while the furnace is off. In most cases the leaks will reseal once the furnace is turned back on in the fall, however; condensation in the furnace combined with any soot can cause the hot water furnace to prematurely rust. This can lower the expected lifespan of a hot water furnace.
In reality, hot water furnaces turn on and off less frequently in summer than during colder months, and only briefly to maintain the temperature of the water inside the unit. This action uses very little oil, so savings are negligible in any event.
At Scotia Fuels, when it comes to heating your home, we have your back. We make sure you have plenty of fuel and that your equipment stays in top working order so it lasts longer and saves you money in repairs and replacement. Unparalled service is the top reason most of our customers choose us and stay with us.
Not yet a customer of Scotia Fuels? Visit us at https://scotiafuels.com/get-in-touch/ or call 902-453-2121. One of our local receptionists will answer the phone at any time of the day, and we’ll sign you up for a free furnace and tank inspection.