Steps for Moving from the Furnace to the Air Conditioner
February 20, 2017

cooling-to-heating-homesWe enjoy a short winter season in Atlanta. Yes, we get our fair share of cold days, but the spring weather arrives early. Right now the weather is rising into the 70s, and although we can expect rainy days as well, we’re almost at the point of the year when the hum of air conditioning will be nearly constant—and furnaces will shut down for a long spring and summer nap.

However, making the transition from using the furnace to exclusively using the air conditioner doesn’t simply involve stopping the use of the furnace. There are some steps we recommend that you take during the coming weeks that will help you make the change over to the air conditioning system so that you have energy efficiency and safety for the coming months.

ONE: Arrange for your annual AC check-up and maintenance

This is essential at the start of cooling season. The same way that a furnace needs its check-up each fall, the air conditioner needs to have professional attention to see that it’s ready to handle another hot and humid winter here in Georgia. To arrange for your air conditioning maintenance in Cartersville, GA, inquire into our Comfort Club Program. We won’t let you leave your comfort zone—not on our watch!

TWO: Turn off the furnace’s pilot light

Older gas furnaces use standing pilot lights to ignite the burners. If you have one of these furnaces, please shut off the pilot light when you no longer need heating for the season. Turn the valve near the pilot light by 90 degrees to stop gas flow, and this will douse the pilot.

THREE: Change the air filter for the HVAC system

If your comfort system is like most, the furnace and air conditioner share the same blower fan. The air filter near this blower fan must be changed regularly to ensure that clogging doesn’t restrict airflow and create comfort and energy efficiency problems. Before the AC gets to work and the furnace takes a nap, put in a fresh filter.

FOUR: Test carbon monoxide detectors

You need CO detectors in your home if you use natural gas in any capacity. They should be tested to see that their working correctly twice a year—and right now is one of the times to test them! Press the “test” button to see that each detector is still operating.

FIVE: Arrange for any repairs the furnace may still need

Here’s something important to understand about a furnace: just because you’re about to stop using it doesn’t mean you should ignore signs of a malfunction. If the furnace has been acting up during the end of cold weather (cold spots around the home, odd noises, weird smells from the vents, short-cycling) don’t assume that you can simply deal with it later, such as in the fall when you’ll need the furnace again. Allowing problems to idle can end up making them worse, and mean that you’ll end up with a non-functional furnace the first day you need it again! It can also become a safety problem. Contact our technicians to take care of lingering furnace troubles before it shuts down.

Comfort Zone Heating & Cooling serves Cummings, GA and throughout Northern Atlanta. Call our customer service specialists at 770-213-COOL (2665) and let us know how we can help.

We service all brands

We accept the following payment types:

Looking for financing options? Special financing available.

GoodLeap QR Code
Get Started Financing with GoodLeap TODAY!!