This time of year, your furnace is running in full force. Know more about this important piece of your home to ensure that continues to function at full capacity. We’re breaking down the part of your furnace to give you a better understanding of this useful heating element in your house.
Different Types of Furnaces
A furnace is typically the main heating source for your home. There are three standards types—the forced air furnace, floor furnace, and wall furnace. The forced air furnace is the most popular. With a controlled thermostat you can dictate your desired temperature, then air is pushed through vents in your house to achieve that temperature. This air is warmed by a furnaces’ heat exchanger, run through a filter, and then blown through vents and air ducts.
An alternative to the forced air furnace is the floor furnace. This can be portable but is usually in a fixed location. Because it is usually just in the one fixed location and does not use ductwork, it can be very effective for heating a particular place in the house (where it is located) but less effective for heating an entire house. The wall furnace is similar, as it is usually located in a fixed location on your wall. Vented wall heaters take oxygen from outside and heat it as it comes inside. A ventless wall heater draws air from the room to hear. Heat exhaust from a wall furnace is vented back into the room.
Three Main Components
Furnaces have three main components to make them run—the heat source, the heat distribution system, and the control system. The heat source is usually a furnace but can also be boilers or heat pumps. A heat distribution system is a method that delivers the heat into your house. It often works through ducts and vent to spread heat evenly. Lastly, the control system controls the temperature settings and regulates the amount of heat distributed in the home—this is usually your thermostat.
The Breakdown
Part of understanding your furnace is understanding all the different parts that go into it. Here is a little breakdown of what keep your house toasty:
- Thermostat: a control system that regulates the temperate in your house.
- Burners: furnace burners are tubes where a gas valve, igniter, and flame sensor work to control gas ignited flames. These flames radiate heat into your home.
- Heat exchanger: These metal tubes are heated by burners in order to warm air that is coming into the furnace. Damage to the heat exchanger can lead to gases leaks in your house. This is why it’s important to have a carbon monoxide detector.
- Blower: This is a fan that will direct the air that comes into the heating system.
- Hood fan: A fan that directs heated air from the burners to the heat exchanger where harmful gases are vented.
- Flue: This piece collects the combustion gases that are created while making heat and sends them outside.
