Is it bad not to use furance in summer?

[mtwsaw]

I am replacing my heating system with a Buderus oil furnace and an electric hot water heater. One installer told me that not using the furnace in the summer will cause damage to the unit as it will build up sulfuric acid over time and it was just not a good idea to let the furnace sit idle over the summer.

He was the only person to say this statement during our process of getting bids and I am curious if there is any truth to this statement.

Thank you.
Matt

[DPSwitch]

What was his suggestion to remedy this problem?

[mtwsaw]

He said use the furnace to heat the hot water via indirect water heater.

[DPSwitch]

is this a furnace or a boiler?

[beenthere]

BS.
How is it going to build up sulfuric acid, if there is no fuel being input to it. Very common around here to have an oil fired boiler, that doesn't run during the summer, because the domestic hot water is provided by an electric water heater.

But, on the other hand, its a great tactic to try and sell indirects.


Some thing to consider though. How damp/humid is your basement.

[mtwsaw]

Sorry I was not clearer about that.

My basement is damp and I run a dehumidifier.

[DPSwitch]

I am not going to even talk about the acid thing....... beenthere has it IMO.

I do happen to like indirect HW setups.

But in your case it might not be the best way to go. Dollar for dollar anyway.

[beenthere]

You keep the basement reasonably dry, and you won't have any trouble from the boiler not running during the summer.
I recomend customers that have space heat only boilers, to wait till the fall to have them cleaned.
The only ones that have any problem remotely related to not running in the summer, is the ones that are in humid/damp basements.