You’ll unlikely be inside your home every day, all day in the winter. Eventually, you and your family will attend school, go to work, run errands, or partake in other activities that will leave the house empty. If you must leave the house empty, you might wonder, “Is it safe to leave heat on when you’re not home?”
At Crew Heating & Cooling, we offer a variety of services, including furnace repair in Spring, TX. Here, we explain if you should turn your furnace off when you leave your house empty. If you experience complications with your heating system’s performance when you’re home, contact us for help.
Can You Leave Your Furnace Running When No One's Home?
A common misunderstanding about heating a building concerns the energy you may waste if you let the furnace run constantly. Leaving the furnace on will keep the house warm. Yet it’ll increase the monthly energy expenses due to increased electricity usage.
You never want to overwork your furnace or let it consume too much energy. So, is it safe to leave heat on when you’re not home?
Letting your furnace run while you’re away for the day is safe if you have a modern HVAC system and it runs correctly. Though it’ll continue using energy, it won’t cause safety concerns for your house.
Possible Problems From Shutting Off the Heat
Your furnace could have problems that could create dangerous situations like a fire, explosion, or illness. Serious heating unit damage includes:
- Gas leaks
- Cracked heat exchanger
- Incorrect gas-to-air ratio
If your furnace functions properly, leaving it on or turning it off won’t directly cause dangerous situations. Still, shutting the system down when the house is empty could cause different complications for your home.
You could leave your house for several hours with the heat off when outdoor temperatures fall to or below freezing. Without heat running through the house, your plumbing could freeze, expand, and burst.
As a result, you’d have to deal with damaged plumbing and expensive property damage, so you won’t be saving money. The house will also become cold and uncomfortable. It could take hours for the house to warm up to a reasonable temperature after you arrive home.
Best Way To Heat Your Home When You're Not Present
Since no one wants to deal with collateral damage from turning off a furnace in the middle of winter, consider dropping the thermostat’s temperature by seven to ten degrees. This minor adjustment will ensure enough heat flows through your home to minimize the risk of burst pipes or extreme discomfort. However, it will prevent the heating system from consuming excess energy, preventing energy bills from becoming too expensive.
You don’t have to wait until you leave home to make this thermostat adjustment. You can also do it at night to keep your energy bills low and help you sleep.
Tips for Optimizing Your Furnace's Performance
Keep your furnace running smoothly all winter with these tips.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat is the easiest way to maintain excellent temperature control. With this device, you can program your desired temperature settings to accommodate your schedule. Smart programmable thermostats allow for remote access using mobile devices with internet access, so you can increase your home’s temperature an hour before your arrival for maximum comfort.
Keep the Temperature Range Consistent
Experts recommend keeping your temperature within a reasonable range for comfort and energy efficiency. When you’re home, set your thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees.
Drop it to 62 degrees at night or when you expect the house to be empty, but don’t go lower. Setting your thermostat around 55 degrees won’t heat your home enough.
Clean or Replace Air Filters Regularly
Furnaces require ample airflow to evenly heat a building. As the system draws in air, the air will pass through a filter to trap airborne particles. If the filter clogs, it will restrict airflow, forcing your furnace to overwork and possibly fail.
Turn to Crew Heating & Cooling for All Your Furnace Needs in Spring, Texas
Is it safe to leave heat on when you’re not home? Yes, as long as you do so correctly to maintain your furnace’s efficiency. Still, you can count on Crew Heating & Cooling to deliver the best furnace repair services in Spring, Texas.
We offer comprehensive heating and air conditioning services with upfront pricing and superior customer service. Crew Heating & Cooling can handle everything from water heater repair to handling problems with static pressure in HVAC systems—call (832) 402-1681 for an appointment today.