Common Furnace Problems
Regardless of the climate you live in, you rely upon your furnace to keep your home comfortable in the winter. Many furnaces are also an integral part of the houses cooling system. Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units are all tied together to regulate the comfort level in your day-to-day lives. Problems with these systems can be an easy remedy. Common furnaces problems may be resolved with simple deduction before calling in a professional. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Furnaces of the past dealt with large water boiler units that generally occupied the main portion of a basement, especially in the northern climates. These behemoths were fired by coal, fuel oil and natural gas. Today's heating units are still fired by fuel oil and natural gas. These units heat up water and feed radiators to the upper floors by either water pumps or thermo siphon. Thermo siphon is the property of heating water and the circulation that occurs in the feed water pipes. When the water is heated, it will rise in the closed piping system and the cold water, after the heat is released, will fall back into the furnaces boiler to be heated and recirculated. Air infiltration into this closed system can cause failure by a creation of an air lock in the sealed piping system or upper floor radiators.
Function
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Hot air furnaces function in a different manner than the hot water circulation units, but they both heat the closed environment of a home. Hot air units circulate the air within the home. As the air passes through a heat exchanger within the furnace, it is heated by the flames of the gas or fuel oil being burned. A large squirrel cage type fan drives the cooler air through the heat exchanger back into the registers that distribute it throughout the house. The motor that drives the fan can be either direct drive or use a v-belt to turn the squirrel cage fan. Both types of motors will use a capacitor to start the motor. When the air fails to circulate, the fan belt, capacitor or the motor contactor should be checked for proper operation.
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Features
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Any furnace that circulates air will have a filter on the intake side of the furnace. This filter aids in keeping not only the heat exchanger free of dust and debris but also the ductwork that delivers the heated air to the rooms of the house. If a poor airflow is felt, a simple solution is the replacement of the air filter. If certain rooms have less circulation than others, the ductwork may have come loose and needs to be reattached.
Effects
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An inefficient furnace can result in higher home heating bills for the month. Poor air circulation can cause the furnace to overwork and consume more fuel. Air locks in the hot water systems can create areas that are not heated at all and other areas getting too much heat.
Prevention/Solution
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Many HVAC contractors offer a yearly inspection of the homes furnace system. They can check the proper operation of fans, pumps and the burners. Generally these inspections are offered at a reasonable price in comparison to the overall heating and cooling bill for the household. Only reputable technicians should be used in these inspections. All HVAC professionals are required by most state laws to be trained, licensed and certified for working on any home heating system.
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