Taking care of your appliances is necessary if you want to extend their longevity and efficacy. After all, appliances are investments, and they cost a significant amount of money. Among the most important appliances inside your residence is the furnace.
A furnace is a component of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioner compressor or HVAC system in buildings that warms the air before distributing it via ductwork to heat the building. In contrast to modern furnaces, which generate heat using natural gas, propane, and electricity, older models were powered by coal and wood.
When it comes to maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home during the colder months, having an efficient furnace is key. Not only does it ensure a cozy environment, but it also contributes to energy conservation and reduces utility bills. Understanding the different types of furnaces and their functionalities can help you make an informed decision for your home heating needs.
Especially during the cold winter days, you want to ensure that your furnace is working. To ensure that you will not have any problem with your furnace, contact Chicago HVAC Contractors and ask for regular inspections.
Different Types of Furnaces
Wood Furnace
In order to heat water, the furnace burns wood. To reach the heated buildings, the heated water is transported through insulated underground pipework. An exchanger of heat connects the insulated underground pipe to your water heater as it enters your house.
Coal Furnace
Coal is burned in a coal-burning furnace to create heat by rupturing the chemical bonds between carbon and hydrogen when it is exposed to fire and oxygen.
Today, homes, businesses, barns, hot tubs, swimming pools, and conservatories can all be heated with the help of coal-fired furnaces at a reasonable price.
Electric Furnace
The general procedures for a gas and electric furnace are the same. An electric furnace uses natural gas to generate heat; it has electrical heating components to warm the air and disperse it through a blower into the surrounding area. That is why it is best to consider the efficiency of the new furnace, taking into account factors like prices. For example, the new furnace costs in Calgary range from $4,500 for the most basic furnace up to around $8,500 for a top-end, highest-efficiency furnace. This is to ensure optimal performance and cost-effectiveness of a new furnace.
The electric furnace sensors detect that the temperature has dropped below the thermostat’s set temperature and turns on automatically.
Gas Furnace
Natural gas is the fuel source for a fully functional gas furnace. An external thermostat can be used to regulate the heat produced by the natural gas being ignited in the furnace.
Propane Furnace
By burning propane and transforming it into a gas, propane furnaces operate.
After reaching a specific temperature, a blower, like the one found in an electric furnace, blows air across the heat exchanger. The recently heated air is forced into the area.
Oil Furnace
When the temperature falls and a room needs to be heated, oil is pulled from the oil tank deposit, passed through a filter, and then fired up in a burner to create heated air that is then circulated through the room’s ductwork. Hence, oil tanks are essential components of an oil furnace.
Furnace Maintenance Tips
Regular Filter Changing
In order to distribute warm air all across your property’s rooms, your furnace’s filter must be clean. Your indoor air quality is hampered by a dirty or clogged filter.
In addition, a dirty filter requires your furnace to function harder. Consequently, it will cost you money because it has to function harder; a less efficient furnace also has a shorter lifespan, which increases the cost of replacing individual parts or even the entire furnace.
If something is odd with your furnace, do not ignore it. Chicago Furnace Repair can help you maintain the overall health of your furnace.
Regularly Ducts and Vents Cleaning
The heating and cooling system must be cleaned and maintained frequently, as with all systems, to keep it in good working order.
It’s essential to keep the vents and ducts tidy because anything that gets inside the vents could travel down into the ductwork and decrease efficiency.
Furnace Flue Cleaning
Your furnace’s fumes may contain carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, particularly if it hasn’t received maintenance in a while.
Problems arise rapidly if the exhaust flue is obstructed and prevents air from moving freely from inside the system to outside your home. Additionally, these three components can cause health hazards.
Keeping Objects Away From Furnace
According to manufacturer specifications and the majority of state rules and standards, your furnace should be free of obstructions and clutter up to 2.5 feet or more.
Keeping your furnace away from clutter permits both safe and efficient operation as well as sufficient air to be used for the heating element’s combustion.
