Heating your home in the winter is a necessity, but you probably don’t think about your heating system until it breaks. When a furnace repair is required, it is best to contact a professional who has experience, the proper tools and HVAC training. Your furnace is an intricate machine that contains many special components that allow your home to stay warm.
It Sounds Simple
A furnace works by heating air and pushing it through your house. Fans blow the warm air through ductwork and out vents that are located in bedrooms and main living spaces such as kitchens or computer rooms. Whether you have a propane, gas or electric furnace, the concept is the same. Cold air is brought into the furnace, heated and then pushed out. While this process sounds simple, many intricate steps are taken to make certain that the cold air that enters your furnace is heated to just the right level. Also, since electricity or highly ignitable gases are used, safety becomes an issue. It takes expert training to ensure that there are no carbon monoxide leaks or other problems. Electric furnaces run efficiently due to high amounts of voltage. Experts are the best option to diagnose furnace problems.
Electric Furnace Heating
If you have an electric furnace, cold air is drawn into the cabinet using a blower. From there, the cold air is pushed into a heat exchanger where conductive coils are heated. If it’s too cold in your house and you decide to turn up your thermostat, your thermostat will send a signal to the furnace and more current will be pushed through the coils. This will make them hotter and elevate the trapped air to a more comfortable temperature before it is pushed throughout your home. An electric furnace is an efficient unit, but the cost of electricity may be higher in some areas. A gas-based heating system may be a better choice.
Propane Heating System
In contrast to an electric furnace, a propane or natural gas furnace uses burners to warm air that is pushed inside the unit. These burners ignite either propane or natural gas and are lit by a pilot light. Your thermostat will regulate the temperature of the heated air and instruct blowers to push it out of the furnace once the required temperature has been reached. One of the main advantages of using natural gas or propane is that it cuts down on your bill. However, this type does require a flew to release gases.
A Warm Home
As you can see, both systems work well to keep your home nice and toasty through the winter. Be sure to contact a professional if you have any problems with your unit.
