Your home furnace is considered to be a major household appliance because of the nature of its job. A furnace is installed as a permanent fixture in your home, designed to provide you with a constant and adjustable source of heat within the home area. A furnace can be operated by a number of methods such as steam, hot water or air, but more commonly in the United States a furnace is run by gas or electricity. Other solid fuel types of furnace might also use wood, coal, oil or other form of solid fuel.
The Inner Workings of a Furnace
Generally, there are a few components involved with the building and functioning of a condensing furnace. Initially the supply duct will be the main supply source to the furnace chamber. Many condensing furnaces have humidifiers but they are optional. There is also a return duct and a clean air filter, as well as an exhaust pipe for venting exhausted pollutants. Because it is a condensing furnace it will also be fitted with a condensate drain hose and a combustion air intake pipe.
Inside the furnace the forced air is heating and pushed out through the pipes into the system main home heating system—usually ducts or vents. Furnaces that work via combustion must be vented via an outside outlet, such as a masonry, concrete or brick chimney. This is because hot air can be expelled at the same time and the solid lining of the chimney is in danger of catching fire.
Since the 1960’s, however, many furnaces have been fitted with metal piping to act as flues and expel the exhaust through a roof. The flue pipes are ‘double walled’ with inner and outer pipes with air gaps and they contain the heated exhaust to prevent damage to the building, therefore serving the same purpose as a solid chimney.
Looking After Your Furnace
Furnace repair in Cincinnati or any other city, can be arranged by calling an appropriate company that offers such a service. Having your furnace serviced at least once a year can keep it running smoothly, and efficiently. You can save a great deal of money by maintaining your heating system and furnace well.
