A gas-powered furnace with a pilot light seems like an anachronism, especially when modern furnaces come with electronic ignition. If you own a furnace that relies on a pilot light for startup, you're probably wondering if you should extinguish it to save energy and money or leave it alone until next fall.

Both options have their own set of pros and cons to consider, which can make it hard to make either choice. Here's a preview of what you can expect to happen when you leave your pilot light on all spring and summer long:

Your Natural Gas Bill Will Increase Slightly

Many homeowners assume that leaving the pilot light on wastes energy and leads to higher utility costs. However, the increase in overall cost isn't as dramatic as you'd expect. Remember that your pilot light consumes far less fuel than the main burners on your furnace.

Considering your area's cost per therm for natural gas, keeping your pilot light on could add an additional $5 to $10 on your natural gas bill each month. There's a good chance you won't notice an extra therm or two on your natural gas summary. If your furnace isn't energy efficient enough to keep costs negligible, then you might want to consider shutting your pilot light off for the summer.  

You Might See Fewer Bugs

Another benefit of keeping your pilot light on at all times is that it discourages certain insects from nesting inside your furnace. Some insects are drawn to the scent of mercaptan, an additive commonly used to help homeowners detect natural gas leaks. Spiders are notorious for weaving their webs within the pilot and burner tubes. However, a burning pilot light discourages most insects from making their way inside the tubes. Insects that are a bit more intrepid will likely get burned to a crisp when passing through the burner. You won't have to worry about those pesky spider webs, either.

Your Furnace Will Always Be Ready for Sudden Chills

Although summer is just around the corner, a sudden springtime cold snap can briefly send temperatures plummeting. Keeping your pilot light on means you won't have to break out the space heater—all you'll have to do is turn the thermostat to the appropriate setting. An always-on pilot light can also save you the trouble of reigniting the pilot every time you need an extra bit of heat.

For more information, talk to companies like A & A Service Company.