Using Breaker as on/off Switch

There is no situation unless it's a safety hazard and you have to go into your panel to turn off the breaker. There's no reason you should be in that panel. That panel is for electricians and trained professionals because it's dangerous. So if you're not using your heating or ac, just go to thermostat, turn it off. You don't have to turn off here and then go to the panel and then turn off there. If you turn off at the thermostat, that should take care of it. If you're having a problem and it won't turn off at the therm, that and you have to go to the breaker, that is a problem that needs to be checked out because you shouldn't be in that panel. Again, it's for professionals and it's for your safety not to be in that panel. Now the panel is in your house. So if something were to happen and you had to kill power at the breaker for an emergency, it's there, you can do it. But it's not made for just an on off switch, if you will, for an appliance or your heating in there.