Is your central heating system running well?
Perhaps the most important element of efficiently warming your home is the condition of your home heating system. If you can’t remember the last time your home furnace serviced or the last time you changed out the filter, there a good chance that you are losing money in the loss of energy efficiency.
To make sure your central heating system is working properly, it is important to get a routine service check. Ensuring that all parts of your furnace are in good shape can not only save you money on energy-efficiency, but can also prevent costly unexpected problems and keep your family safe.
Warm air system
Warm air systems, also known as dry systems, can still be found in some older homes. They peaked in the 1960s-70s, but have since replaced by wet systems. You can still see a variation of this system in commercial buildings where they also circulate cool air (air conditioning).
In the dry system, cold air is brought in from outside, is heated by a central boiler, and then seems circulated through the home using air ducts and vents. Each duct can opened or closed to control the heat levels. However, as the massive ducts must fitted into the building to avoid being obtrusive. Dry systems can only installed while a house being built.
Your home heating system consists of three key parts
- Heat source – The heat source most often a furnace or heat pump. Fuel-based furnaces burn fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas or propane to generate heat. While electric furnaces convert electricity to heat through a system of heating elements inside the unit. Heat pumps pull heat out of the air or ground and use it to warm your house.
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Thermostat
Though separated from the ductwork and furnace itself, the thermostat controls the heating cycle. When the temperature gets below the thermostat setting, it will activate the furnace to begin heating the home.
- Air circulation system – This is the ductwork, the extensive network of large pipes that carries heated air to and from points throughout your home. The warm air forced through the supply ducts by blower fans that seem strong enough to send the heated air to the farthest point of the duct network. There, it exits into your house through vents or registers.
