If you’re thinking about getting a new furnace for your home, but aren’t quite sure what type to get, then this article post is for you, providing you with just the right guide to get started with!
What is a furnace?
A furnace is a heating device that produces heat, which in turn heats the home. A furnace provides hot air to every room through its vents. This can be attained by burning fuels like wood, coal, natural gas, or oil [most common]. In order for a furnace to burn any of these fuels efficiently, it needs a blower to distribute the airflow. The efficiency of a furnace depends on how natural gas can be distributed effectively within the furnace and the exhaust ports where there will be no more hot air, which in turn causes drafts.
How does my furnace work?
The burning fuel produces gases that make up water vapor or steam. Gases from this can then be used to power the blower fan, which pushes out hot air through your vents. Next, the gases are pushed up and into a heat exchanger or heat recovery ventilator, which helps regain some of the energy that gets released as the gas rises. Some burners also use a more expensive device known as a pilot light. This is a flame that burns at all times. It helps the furnace start-up faster and keeps it running while your home’s temperature changes during the day or night.
Different types of furnaces –
- Gas Furnace
Furnaces of this type are more energy-efficient and often cleaner than others like the oil-fired furnace. In any home, it is important to have a correctly installed gas furnace. When there is a complete power failure due to an outage, or you simply turn off the heat by shutting down the thermostat, the gas furnace also turns off. This is because of the reset switch that interrupts the electrical operation of gas furnaces once they are not supplied with any power source. They are also more expensive compared to coal and oil furnaces.
- Oil Furnace
Oil-fired units give off a different type of heat from those which burn natural gas. Central AC systems usually use oil furnaces. This is because they are cheaper to maintain and easier to install, as compared to gas ones. However, a drawback of these units is that they are not energy efficient, often making them the choice of homeowners who want cheap heating and cooling options for their homes. When the thermostat shuts down your furnace, make sure that it does not emit any kind of smell. This is because some oil-fired furnaces are prone to develop cracks, which leads to leakage and the production of toxic gases, especially hydrogen sulfide.
- Electric furnace
Since they use electricity for operation, electric furnaces have more safety and convenience features than other types. The function of an electric furnace is controlled by a thermostat which turns it on when the temperature in your home drops below the set-point [temperature you set] and off when the temperature reaches or exceeds this point.
Some of these systems have an “economizer” mode that shuts off the electric furnace when it is not needed, uses outside air to control home temperature, and then turns on the electric furnace when the temperature drops.
- Wood Stoves
Wood-burning furnaces are an eco-friendly way to heat and cool your home. But they have their downside too. They can be dangerous if not installed and used properly. These units come in all kinds of shapes; some can even be wall-mounted or built into cabinets. If you want a wood furnace, make sure an authorized inspection agency has tested it. This will ensure that it gives you years of hassle-free service and heats your home efficiently as designed. When installing a wood furnace, ensure you have enough required clearance from combustible objects such as walls and cabinets for proper air circulation. If you have any doubts or questions, ask a professional installer for furnace services in Elmhurst.
- Propane Furnaces
Propane heating units are a good alternative to an electric furnace. Propane furnaces can be used in homes that do not have access to a natural gas line. In addition, they produce heat more quickly than the oil-fired furnace since they use liquefied petroleum gases. The main difference between propane and natural gas is that propane has no odor, while natural gas has a distinct smell. This is why propane furnaces require a safety device called carbon monoxide alarms to warn you of too much CO inside the unit.
How to choose the right type for your home-
Before you decide to buy any furnace, make sure you know how much heat your home requires and what kind of fuel will be most appropriate for it. Purchasing a furnace that needs more energy than your home can generate wastes the money invested in installing a system in the first place. Therefore, it is important to consider these factors while choosing a heating system for your home.
Advantages and disadvantages of furnaces-
Advantages of furnaces:
- Furnace systems are economical because they use many energy sources that are readily available at a low cost; this is unlike fireplaces and heaters that require special fuel.
- They create a comfortable atmosphere in your home by evenly distributing warmth at all times of the year; this helps reduce heating costs as you do not need to increase temperature excessively when it is colder or lower it too much when there is no need for it. Furnaces have been rated highly efficient for home heating purposes and have gained recognition from institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has labeled every energy-efficient furnace manufactured in the United States with a label that tells you how much fuel is needed to comfortably heat 1000 square feet of space in your home.
Disadvantages of furnaces:
- Furnace units can be dangerous if they are not installed properly or used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; this is why it is important that you hire a qualified and professional technician for installation or repair work. The EPA has also issued warnings against the improper use of these systems.
- Furnace units are expensive compared to simpler heating sources such as fireplaces and heaters; this is why many homeowners choose to go back to more traditional methods for their home’s heating requirements.
The future of furnaces in homes
For Buying A Furnace: What is the Best Time? It is now. Many residential and commercial buildings are switching to highly efficient systems of heating to save money. One example is the gas furnace which has been replacing electric units around the globe; they cost less to install because no electricity is needed for them. In addition, these furnaces produce more heat per BTU than their predecessors. If you need a new heating system, make sure it is compatible with a renewable energy source such as the sun or wind.