Cold temperatures in winter leave you relying on your furnace each day. The more you heat your home, the higher your energy costs will be. For most homeowners, this makes the temptation to turn the furnace off while they’re away from the house hard to resist. Unfortunately, deciding whether or not to turn the furnace off or leave it on is more complicated than deciding which method will save you the most money. Before you contact your HVAC contractor for advice, consider how each option will impact your house.

Leaving the Furnace On

Leaving the furnace on while you’re gone guarantees that your home will be comfortable when you get back. If you have pets, it also keeps them safe if the temperatures drop unexpectedly. Since your home’s plumbing can freeze when the temps drop, leaving the furnace on while you’re gone can help protect the pipes and keep them from bursting.

However, leaving the furnace on will increase both your energy costs as well as possible furnace repair costs. The more the heater runs, the more wear and tear the components experience. Over the course of the winter, this could leave you calling an experienced HVAC contractor more frequently to keep the furnace from breaking down.

Turning the Furnace Off

Turning the furnace off while you’re away will lower your energy bills and can potentially save you on heating system repair costs. However, it will also leave your house uncomfortable when you finally get home. Worse, it puts your pets and your plumbing in danger. If the weather gets too cold, you could come home to a flooded basement or pets huddled under the covers of your bed.

What’s the Best Course of Action?

The best way to keep your furnace in good shape and reduce the risk of emergency repair calls to your HVAC contractor is to set the heat at 55 degrees Fahrenheit at a bare minimum. Any lower and you run the risk of damaging both the furnace and your house. This temperature will keep things from freezing without putting strain on your energy bill.

Keeping your furnace in good condition is key in keeping your home ready for winter weather. Whether you decide to turn the furnace off or leave it on while you’re away, schedule a tune-up with an HVAC contractor at ZAP Heating & Cooling in Cleveland, GA. Their experienced team will work to make sure your furnace is working properly all winter long. Learn more about their furnace repair service online and call (706) 219-1709 to schedule an estimate today.