Question:

I would NOT leave the pilot light on, if you are not using the furnace for anything else. Besides, each gas coming in is a risk in itself. I’d turn it off. We can’t at our house, because it also heats our water, but then again, our furnace turns off its pilot after a while (We have a Weissmann)  -turgut – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Perhaps this will answer your question, I have a vacant rental I am currently fixing up, I just got a gas bill for $10 and the only thing running is one stinking pilot light.  If your rates are the same as mine, this is $110 a year for the convenience of not having to re-light the pilot next year. — Roger Shoaf If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent. Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Response:

Our 12-year-old furnace has a piezo electric ignition – and stainless burner. If your burner is SS, then don’t worry about rust. BUT – unless you ask the gas co. to shut off your service – you will still be paying a minimum charge for the monthly meter reader.  Your gas company may have a seasonal program.  OR – you could save the minimum charge ($100 a year) by switching to propane, and calling when you need a refill.   The changeover "may only involve" replacing the orifice. Getting older (and wiser) – but – it beats the alternative!

Response:

Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks. Do you really need a furnace in Texas?!?  

Just to give everyone an idea, SO. TX winters get in the 40’s a lot and frequent 30’s at night. Strong cold fronts(i.e., Siberian Expresses, etc.) can drop us in the 20’s and infrequent teens at night while you more northern people are shoveling snow, scraping ice, etc. You NEED a furnace…even in very so. Tx. I asked this same question a while back and got many different opinions.  I am still not sure what I will do, but I will likely end up turnig it off after the cold season.  My furnace is old anyway(original unit, house built in late 70’s), so even if it did rust more quickly without the pilot I don’t really care too much, I want a new higher efficiency furnace anyway.  But on the other hand, my furnace is off only about 4 months per year as I live in Toronto, so I don’t know how much I will really save.   Natural gas has gone through the freakin’ roof over the past year or so, so that makes me want to turn it off even more, even if it isn’t really saving me a load, it is the principal that if I can keep 5 cents out of the gas utlities hands I would be willing to do it.  I guess when it is all said and done…If I were you(living in Texas) I would probably take my chances(if there even are any) and turn the pilot light out.

Bingo! Theres the data point that makes the decision nowdays. With natural gas prices 4X what they were a year ago, turn off the pilots! I doubt humidity is an issue at all w/furnace life unless your in Florida…maybe. AC efficiency w/pilot on….hmmm, sounds logical but no data to prove. Sometimes logic get disproven by fact. Danny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Take Care, Victor

Response:

Re: Pilot Light  

Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

I myself would just get a furnace with electronic ignition,no pilot needed.Lights only when you need heat.

If one only uses the furnace one month out of the year, buying a new furnace would be a total waste of money as long as the old one works ok. Only light the pilot during the (1-month) heating season. If you ever need to replace the furnace or A/C, junk the furnace and get a high-efficiency heat pump. — Sam

And add, pilots do heat the heat exchanger, granted not much, but it decreases the a/c efficiency and is accumulative.  Between a/c cycles the pilot will heat the exchanger, a/c coil, ducts, etc,…… and this has to be overcome with the a/c.   Every little bit helps. John Williamson

Response:

minimum, of 16 1/2 cents a day so I know what you are talking about. — Roger Shoaf If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Begin Quote  I just got a gas bill for $10 and the only thing running is one stinking pilot light. End Quote     You gas bill likely has a minimum or a service charge that continues even if you use no gas. — Dia ’s Muire duit Joe M

Response:

Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Do you really need a furnace in Texas?!?   I asked this same question a while back and got many different opinions.  I am still not sure what I will do, but I will likely end up turnig it off after the cold season.  My furnace is old anyway(original unit, house built in late 70’s), so even if it did rust more quickly without the pilot I don’t really care too much, I want a new higher efficiency furnace anyway.  But on the other hand, my furnace is off only about 4 months per year as I live in Toronto, so I don’t know how much I will really save.   Natural gas has gone through the freakin’ roof over the past year or so, so that makes me want to turn it off even more, even if it isn’t really saving me a load, it is the principal that if I can keep 5 cents out of the gas utlities hands I would be willing to do it.  I guess when it is all said and done…If I were you(living in Texas) I would probably take my chances(if there even are any) and turn the pilot light out. Take Care, Victor

Response:

I’m not sure what the national laws are, but in NYS (or at least NYC) it is illegal to sell gas Furnaces or Boilers with pilot lights in order to conserve gas.  Electronic ignition is required.  If not running a pilot was so destructive, I’m sure there would be an uproar, but that is not the case. I’d figure that turning it off is no more problem than not having one at all. — BobJ

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks. Do you really need a furnace in Texas?!? I asked this same question a while back and got many different opinions. I am still not sure what I will do, but I will likely end up turnig it off after the cold season.  My furnace is old anyway(original unit, house built in late 70’s), so even if it did rust more quickly without the pilot I don’t really care too much, I want a new higher efficiency furnace anyway.  But on the other hand, my furnace is off only about 4 months per year as I live in Toronto, so I don’t know how much I will really save. Natural gas has gone through the freakin’ roof over the past year or so, so that makes me want to turn it off even more, even if it isn’t really saving me a load, it is the principal that if I can keep 5 cents out of the gas utlities hands I would be willing to do it.  I guess when it is all said and done…If I were you(living in Texas) I would probably take my chances(if there even are any) and turn the pilot light out. Take Care, Victor

Response:

Begin Quote  I just got a gas bill for $10 and the only thing running is one stinking pilot light. End Quote     You gas bill likely has a minimum or a service charge that continues even if you use no gas. — Dia ’s Muire duit Joe M

Response:

In western NY, where I live, we have humidity. We keep our pilots on the whole year to hold down humidity in the furnace, and reduce corrosion and rust. I’ve heard many tales about people who shut off the pilot and have their heat exchanger corrode out. This may be not a problem in central TX, but maybe close to the coasts it is more humid? — This Message is guaranteed environmentally friendly Manufactured with 10% post consumer HTML Meets all EPA regulations for clean air Using only naturally occuring fibers Use this Message  with confidence!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Response:

Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

I myself would just get a furnace with electronic igition,no pilot needed.Lights only when you need heat. "When sparks fly,robots die "

Response:

Begin Quote  I’ve heard many tales about people who shut off the pilot and have their heat exchanger corrode out. End Quote     They are just tales.  The industry recommends turning them off for longer life.  Remember the byproducts of combustion of that hydrocarbon is H2O  CO and CO2. — Dia ’s Muire duit Joe M

Response:

    Some people believe that the heat from the gas flame will help keep the furnace dry, but in reality it does just the opposite.  Water is a byproduct of the combustion.  Best to turn it off. — Dia ’s Muire duit Joe M

Response:

I heard the the pilot light will help burn away moisture inside the furnace, which will help to keep rust at bay.

Rust NEVER sleeps.

Response:

When I lived there, I would turn the furnace pilot off. Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

– Just my $0.02 worth.  Hope it helps Gordon Reeder greeder at: myself.com

Response:

Turn it off. It’s wasteing fuel, and burning up your thermocouple . – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Response:

Perhaps this will answer your question, I have a vacant rental I am currently fixing up, I just got a gas bill for $10 and the only thing running is one stinking pilot light.  If your rates are the same as mine, this is $110 a year for the convenience of not having to re-light the pilot next year. — Roger Shoaf If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Response:

I heard the the pilot light will help burn away moisture inside the furnace, which will help to keep rust at bay. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Response:

Do I need to feed gas to my furnace during the summer time? I live in Texas and I use my furnace for about 1 month for each year. I was just wondering if there is some reason to keep the pilot light on the other 11. Thanks.

Response: