How Does a Furnace Work?

A furnace provides much-needed warmth during the winter months, and you need a properly functioning furnace to remain comfortable during the colder seasons. Most people only pay attention to their furnace whenever it is broken, and this can cause you and your family to freeze because you may come to a broken unit in the dead of winter, which must be avoided.  

Understanding how a furnace works will help you maintain it, and you will know how to troubleshoot issues properly. While there are different types of furnaces, all units operate in a similar way, and understanding the different components in your furnace and how they work together will help you maintain your system. 

Components of a Home Furnace

• Burners. These are tubes where gas is burned, and they are fitted with a flame sensor and a gas valve that help control flames and turn off the gas when a flame is not detected. 
• Heat exchanger. This is one the most vital parts of a home furnace and is made up of coils where heat is added to the air. Heated air is blown into the ductwork by a blower motor. 
• Ductwork. This distributes heated air throughout your home. 
• Blower. This directs air from the return ducts into the heat exchanger, after which the heated air is directed into the ductwork. The fans are pre-set during installation. 
• Flue. This gets rid of toxic remnants of the combustion process and is also referred to as an exhaust stack. 
• Thermostat. This component helps you control the temperature to your liking. When it’s turned up, the flames become larger, increasing the temperature, and when it is turned down, the flames grow smaller, which will lower the heat. 
• Heat pump. This component is usually fitted in hybrid heating systems and increases the efficiency of home heating systems, which will help reduce heating bills. During the winter, a heat pump will condense heat from the outside air to pump it into your home, and during the summer, the heat pump will remove the heat from the air in the house and dispose of the hot air outside. 
• Air filter. This component is located near the blower motor and removes allergens and pollutants to improve air quality. Air filters also protect the motor, and it is important to change the filter regularly to guarantee good-quality air. 

How a Furnace Warms a Home

Outside air enters the furnace through a vent, which gets filtered to remove dust and debris, after which it is stored in the plenum, an enclosed space in the furnace. The filtered air is then pushed into the burners, where the air is heated, and the blower forces the heated air into the ductwork. 

The ductwork distributes the hot air in your home, which repeats until the heat reaches the required level. And the process will then stop until heating is needed again. The flue will dispose of noxious flames and carbon monoxide remnants of the combustion process. 

Maintaining a Furnace

Regular maintenance is required for a furnace to distribute heat efficiently in your home. You must inspect and clean the air filter and all electronic connections and regularly lubricate moving parts. You should also check for corrosion on your unit and inspect if the burners are operating correctly. 

Your furnace is an integral part of your home, and regular maintenance will allow you to rely on it. Contacting a professional technician for furnace repairs is a must if you encounter a problem because they will diagnose the issue and fix it to ensure you have heat during the cold winter months. 

Importance of Professional Furnace Repairs

It is always best to hire a professional for any furnace issues, as this will ensure your furnace is in proper working order. Professional furnace repair technicians are equipped with experience, specialized tools, and knowledge and provide homeowners with the following benefits:

1. Ensure your family’s safety

Furnace systems are complex, and attempting to fix one without the proper knowledge can result in disastrous consequences. A faulty or poorly maintained furnace can cause carbon monoxide leaks, fires, and even explosions, and this is why it is so important to contact a licensed technician for this job. It is not worth risking the safety of your loved ones, and if you think your furnace is faulty, you must contact a reputable furnace repair technician. 

2. Use of quality parts

Quality parts will extend the longevity of your appliance, and certified technicians will ensure original and quality parts are being used for the repair. A certified furnace repair technician will also install the parts correctly and ensure they comply with safety regulations. 

3. Fast response time

Furnace breakdowns can leave you both helpless and frustrated during the harsh winter months. When this happens, you need to contact a repair technician, and reputable companies will answer immediately. They will come to your home to fix the problem and get your system back up and running fast. Reliable furnace repair technicians will provide customers with fast response times to provide you with heat as soon as possible. 

4. Increased life expectancy

Professional furnace repair technicians can identify issues quickly and will also detect minor problems. They will provide you with the necessary repairs and get ahead of potential issues, which will help increase your furnace’s longevity. They will repair your furnace correctly and efficiently, and you will enjoy cost savings and convenience. 

5. Improved air quality

Professional repair technicians will inspect every aspect of your heating system, including the filters, air ducts, and vents. They will identify potential problems like dust accumulation, pollen, clogged filters, and leaks in your ductwork, all of which can reduce indoor air quality. 

When these issues are addressed on time, it can help improve the overall air quality in your home, reducing allergens and other harmful airborne particles from circulating. 

All-in-all

Are you looking for a professional and reputable furnace repair technician? DMA Gas Services is ready to help! Our knowledge and experience set us apart from other companies, and we will make sure your furnace is in proper working order. If your furnace is causing you trouble, contact us today!