A furnace is a common type of home heating system. Most houses in the United States are constructed with a heating system. It is important to give a lot of thought to how houses are heated before opting to buy any home. Read on to learn more about furnaces.
Many households rely on a furnace to provide heat. A furnace heats air and distributes the heated air through the house using ducts. There are different types of furnaces that are currently available. Here are how the various types of furnaces operate.
How a furnace works
A furnace draws air from a home into a ductwork system. The air is taken to an area where it is warmed before the warm air is delivered throughout the house. Newer furnaces usually rely on the use of blowers to recirculate the warm air. The circulating air is often drawn through a filter. This helps rid a house of dust as well as other particles.
A furnace blows the heated air through the ducts that help in the delivery of warm air to the rooms through air registers or grills. This type of heating system is commonly referred to as a forced warm-air distribution system. A furnace may be fueled or powered with gas, oil, electricity, wood, or coal. Vents help to bring warm air into living spaces. These vents are usually found in walls or floors and the temperature is often controlled through an adjustable thermostat.
Different types of furnaces
Inside oil or gas-fired furnaces, the fuel is mixed with the air, and then it is burned. The flames help heat a metal heat exchanger which allows the heat to be transferred to the air. The air handler’s furnace fan pushes the air through the heat exchanger and then it is forced via the ductwork downstream of the heat exchanger. At the furnace, the combustion products are vented out via a flue pipe.
Electric furnaces rely on the use of heating elements or strips to warm the air. Coal or wood furnaces have a firebox that is sealed. This is where the fuel is burned. They also have a heat exchanger where the air is warmed before being delivered.
Heating system controls
Heating system controls help regulate when various components of the system turn either on or off. This, in turn, makes the thermostat an important control. It can be used to turn the system, or specifically the distribution system, on and off depending on the preference of a person. This helps ensure that a homeowner is comfortable. A forced-air system usually has a single thermostat. However, there are other internal controls in heating systems that are usually a vital set of safety controls.
Heating systems are often easy to maintain. Regardless of the type of furnace you have, you should always ensure it is in good condition. There are several things you can do to keep your heating system in good condition including having it serviced once a year. Good regular maintenance will ensure that your furnace operates efficiently.