What You Need to Know About a Furnace

Because it is such an important aspect of your home's day-to-day comfort, especially during the winter, your furnace should be considered a substantial investment in your property. When it comes to upgrading your furnace or installing a new one, it makes sense to properly examine all of your alternatives before making a decision. Here's a checklist to help you choose the proper heater for your house or commercial facility.

What is a furnace?

A furnace is a device that heats the air in homes and other residential structures. The blower motor, burner, and hot surface ignitor, as well as the heat exchanger, flue, return ducts, and air filter, are all important components of the central heating system.

The blower motor can normally be found at the base of the furnace near the blower chamber. It is similar to a hamster wheel that contains a fan or a blower.

The hot surface ignitor is the receiver of the electrical current when temperatures drop below the thermostat setting causing the burner to get hot.

Heat exchanger deals directly with heat and it’s the first place where combustion gases arrive after the burners produce them.

Flue, which is also known as the exhaust stack, disposes of unwanted exhaust that results from gas and oil combustion. This part of the furnace is the one that keeps you warm.

Return duct is where cool air is being retrieved from your home and cycled back through the furnace repeating the process of producing warm air again.

The air filter is located near the blower motor and it collects dust and other particles. Only professionals can handle this part of the furnace.

How does a furnace work?

The principle of forced air heating is used in furnaces. It heats the air and distributes it throughout the home via ductwork or in-room vents.

When the thermostat detects a dip in temperature below the specified temperature, cold air from the house is drawn into the system, passing through the air filter to remove allergens such as dust and pollen. It will then blow air via the air handler, which will warm up owing to the furnace's heat source, and distribute warm air through the ducts via the blower motor.

The temperature of the residence will finally match the temperature set at the thermostat as the heating process continues.

There are two types of furnaces: electric furnace and gas furnace.

What is an electric furnace?

If you do not experience harsh winter weather in your area, an electric furnace may be the right choice for you. It is considered energy efficient in areas where the temperature remains above freezing. It is typically small and can be installed and maintained with ease. It can last up to 15-20 years and it does not require any special venting or piping. An electrical ignition begins its heating process ad activates the heating elements that contain the conductive coils. As current passes through the coils, the heating of air begins.

What is a propane furnace?

For areas with harsh winter weather, the gas furnace is a popular choice. Gas furnaces are highly efficient in producing heat in your homes. However, it often comes with additional costs in terms of installing, replacing, and maintenance requirements. If you have a gas furnace, you will regularly clean the ductwork and inspect the main unit and replacement filters every year. A pilot light is used to ignite a series of burners inside a combustion chamber. As burners produce heat, it then enters the heat exchanger where heat is transferred to the air raising it to the temperature that is set by the thermostat. The blowers then take air and distribute it through the ducts.

If you're in the market for a new furnace, contact your HVAC professionals for recommendations. They will give you information that will make it easy for you to make a selection and reduce your time spent researching the best furnace for you.

Need Help With Your Furnace?

If you need any help with installing or repairing your furnace contact our HVAC team at Heatwave Air Conditioning and Heating. We provide expert heating repair service in Tucson, AZ!

Call us at (520) 623-1855

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