Why Does My Furnace Turn On in the Summer?

Are you having issues with your furnace? Call JC Heating & Cooling for assistance.

The summer months bring lots of humidity and uncomfortably hot temperatures. You expect your air conditioner to work hard throughout the season. You don’t expect your furnace to kick on and start operating when temperatures reach the 80s or even the 90s.

When you hear the tell-tale sounds that indicate your furnace has clicked on, you find yourself wondering, “Why does my furnace turn on in the summer?” Confusion arises. You could swear that you only turned your air conditioning settings on. Your indoor temperatures are nowhere near cool enough to warrant furnace operation.

So why would your heating system power up at the wrong time like this? As Hodgkins’ reliable heating repair company, our crew at JC Heating & Cooling will help you find some answers. Discover whether your HVAC system is experiencing problems or whether the seemingly random heating functions are normal for your unit.

State Laws for HVAC Systems Manufactured and Installed After 1991

In July 1991, state laws mandated that all homes built from that point onward have interior mechanical ventilation systems. This means that the furnace system has a make-up air conditioning system built into it. These systems have a timer that occasionally triggers the furnace’s blower fan to activate.

Although this process does power up a furnace component occasionally, it does not make the furnace produce heat. This feature is completely normal for your home. It should not affect your thermostat settings or cause your system to consume more energy than it usually would.

You Have Central Air Conditioning

If your home has a central air conditioning system under these circumstances, you need the blower fan to operate in this way. Otherwise, your air conditioner won’t work properly to keep your home cool. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about your furnace powering and producing hot air in your home.

You Don’t Have Central Air Conditioning

Do you use some other type of HVAC system? You can likely turn off both gas and electronic ignitions and power supply to your furnace for the summer! This action shouldn’t affect your indoor temperature or thermostat settings. However, it might save you a little money on your monthly energy bills.

Before cold weather settles into your region, remember to reconnect your electric or gas supply to the furnace. Otherwise, your pilot light may not ignite. Your furnace may run without heating your home, which wastes energy and will make you and your family uncomfortable when outdoor temperatures dip.

Your System Includes a Boiler

If the above explanation doesn’t apply to you, you’re probably still wondering, “Why does my furnace turn on in the summer?” See whether your home uses a boiler as part of its heating functions.

While a boiler doesn’t always influence HVAC settings and operations, it can use energy unnecessarily in certain cases. See if the following scenarios apply to you.

The Boiler Is Separated from the Water Heater

Some homes use a network of pipes that transfer hot water throughout the building to keep rooms warm. These heating systems typically include a boiler to heat the water. This boiler is often unattached to the household water heater, which heats and transfers water into the plumbing system.

If this boiler powers up in the summer, it probably takes temperature cues regardless. When the water in the boiler cools off, the boiler reheats it in case the thermostat communicates the need for it. You can turn this system off until you need it again in the winter. During the summer, this boiler needlessly uses your energy when it stays on standby.

The Boiler Is Attached to the Water Heater

Some boiler systems share the same burner used by the water heater. So when you hear what you perceive as the boiler turning on, you might actually hear the burner preparing to heat the water heater’s contents. In such cases, turning the boiler off won’t help.

You might end up powering the burner off instead, leaving your household without access to hot water. Leave the boiler, burner, and hot water heater alone in this situation. The boiler won’t likely consume any excess energy.

Summer Checklist for Heating Systems

If you want to eliminate any potential problems or unnecessary energy usage, use the following maintenance checklist to keep your heating system in top shape throughout the year.

If you have central air conditioning or an unattached boiler, you can turn the power supply to the furnace or boiler off. This will preserve some energy throughout the summer.
If you don’t have a central air system or you have an attached boiler, let the power supply continue throughout the year.
Prepare your thermostat settings to keep your indoor environment comfortable yet energy efficient.
In late summer or early autumn, turn the power supply back when applicable.
Run your heating system before you need it to ensure it has no problems.
Schedule maintenance services and tune-ups in late summer or early autumn. Your technician can troubleshoot any issues while ensuring your system works efficiently.
Change filters and check for debris around any indoor and outdoor heating units you can easily access. Check on them periodically throughout the season to ensure they remain in working order.

Following this list will ensure that your furnace, boiler, or other heating mechanism works perfectly when you turn it back on in the winter. It can also save you money on expensive repairs and energy costs while prolonging your system’s lifespan.