Friday, November 10, 2017

Furnace 101

Now that the cold weather is here, it’s important to learn a thing or two about the magical machine that will provide our homes with heat and comfort during the long and cold winter days. The more you know about a furnace and how it works, the better you can troubleshoot it if something were to go wrong. Royal Heating & Air knows that understanding how your furnace works will help you troubleshoot your furnace and potentially avoid an expensive HVAC service call. While you may be able to quickly solve the problem on your own, sometimes you need your Lake of the Ozarks HVAC company to come fix the problem for you.


Welcome to Furnace 101


What is a Furnace?
The most common type of furnace is a gas-powered central air system. This means that air is heated in one area and is then distributed throughout the house through ductwork and vents. The main parts of your furnace are the control system (thermostat and electrical controls), gas valve, burners, heat exchanger, and duct and ventilation system.

Thermostat and Gas Valve
Your furnace starts working when it receives a signal from the thermostat that tells it to turn on. Depending on the temperature you choose, when the thermostat detects the air temperature dropping below the selected temperature, it activates the furnace. When the thermostat sends the signal to the furnace, the furnace gas valve opens and ignites the burner component beneath the combustion chamber. The gas valve and the thermostat work together to regulate the amount of gas that flows into your furnace.

If your gas valve is working fine, but the furnace isn’t turning on, check to make sure your pilot light is on. If your pilot light is out, you should refer to your manufacturer instructions or contact the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Heat Moves to Heat Exchanger
The flames from the burner component heat a metal exchanger. The heat circulates through the looped tubes of the heat exchanger, transferring the heat to air. This is a crucial step. If it’s not working, you won’t have any heat. A heat exchanger can also be dangerous if they develop any cracks or leaks. An efficient and well-maintained heat exchanger is essential for a working furnace. Combustion gases should be venting out of the house safely during the process of heating the heat exchanger.

Blower and Fan
As the heat circulates through the heat exchanger, the blower motor and fan moves the heat through the plenum and then through the rest of the ductwork in your home. That heat then flows through the vents in each room, which provide your home with warm air. Once enough heat has been generated, the thermostat will send a signal to turn off the furnace.

When there is a problem with your furnace, it is more than likely the control system, heat source, or the distribution system. No matter the problem, your Lake of the Ozarks HVAC company will be able to take care of it. 

The best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks understands how important it is to keep your home warm and comfortable during the winter months. Hopefully, with a little understanding of how your furnace system works, you will be able to troubleshoot the problem yourself or know early on that you need to give Royal Heating & Air a call. Don’t forget, annual fall furnace maintenance is important to keep your system running smoothly. If you haven’t yet, schedule yours today! 

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313





No comments:

Post a Comment