How does a gas furnace work?

A gas furnace is an extremely important and useful appliance for people living in cold regions. Also known as a home furnace, it converts gas to heat and is used to keep the circulation of indoor air warm and comfortable for living conditions. As an environmentally friendly option to preserve natural resources like wood, coal and oil to heat homes, natural gas is used in recent times. Some furnaces operate at 95% efficiency which simply means that what you pay for energy is converted into heat for your home’s indoors.

Before going on to understand how a gas furnace works, take some time to know the parts of a furnace. A home furnace is divided into three parts. The first part consists of the burner, heat exchanger, vent and draft inducer. The second is made up of safety devices and controls. The third consists of the blower and air movement. All these parts work in unison to keep the furnace running efficiently.

How does it work?

A gas furnace is a forced home air heating system that reacts when the indoor air temperature drops below the programmed setting on a thermostat. The heart of your home furnace is the burner controlled by a thermostat. When the temperature indoors falls below a certain point, the thermostat alerts the furnace which combines air and fuel and the mixture gets ignited by an electronic igniter.The combusted, hot gas begins to rise through the heat exchanger situated above the burner and heats the air which is circulated throughout the house. The remaining exhaust exits the gas furnace from a vent, which is let outside the house. The whole heating process starts at the heart of the system, which is the furnace controlled by the thermostat. Some furnaces come with two or more burners where huge volumes of air are heated for distribution.Meanwhile, an electric fan situated inside the furnace pulls in fresh air which comes through a flat, large grill located in the floor, wall or ceiling of the house. Before the fresh air reaches the furnace, it must filtered properly of dust and other particulate matter.If the cold air is not properly cleaned then it can have an adverse effect on its operation. You need to replace furnace filters every month and also keep the duct vents clean to provide maximum working efficiency and heat to your home. The filtered air passes into an enclosed space known as the plenum which is located opposite to the heat exchanger.The exchanger then heats the air very quickly which comes from the plenum as a result of high pressure. The hot air is passed out of the furnace and through the ductwork into your home’s indoor spaces. 

The ignited gases that are used to create the heat are vented through a shaft in the wall or roof. However in some furnace installations, a humidifier is added near the place where the intake duct is located so that the drying out of heated air can be mitigated. Humidifiers are directly connected to the water line by a tiny copper pipe.Another pipe is also used to drain away the condensation created from the process. Till the temperature inside reaches a specific point, the process is repeated again and again. Only after a certain level, the thermostat stops the furnace from the heating process.The size of the FurnaceIt is important to consider the size of the furnace before installation. The size of the gas furnace should match the size of the indoor spaces meant for heating.If the furnace is too large, it will off repeatedly and short-cycle, which in turn can lead to wear and tear on internal components and spikes in electricity.If the furnace is too small, it will constantly run in cold weather, which will take more energy to warm indoor spaces and therefore increase electricity usage.To determine what furnace size to purchase, take important points into consideration like your home’s total area for heating and type of insulation used. A well-insulated home goes a long way in keeping your furnace running efficiently and cut back on energy bills every month.

Cut your energy bill by half by following these methods

Most homeowners will never add up their year’s worth of energy bills. There are so many options and tips to help you save and cut your energy bill by half every year. According to statistics taken by the U.S. Department of Energy, an average household spends about $2,000 every year on heating and cooling. That is no small amount for a middle class household. Here are a few tips to keep in mind and some home improvements you can do to add up around $1,000 in energy savings every year;

Unplug Chargers and other Electronics

Most remote operated devices like TVs, set-top boxes and devices with chargers like cell phones and computer equipment use power even when they are switched off. So make sure you unplug them when they are not in use.

Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Compact Fluorescent Lamps otherwise known as CFLs use over two-thirds less electricity compared to standard electric light bulbs. For most used areas in your home that needs light, you can replace five regular bulbs with CFLs to save energy.

Change Furnace Filter

When was the last time you checked your heating or cooling systems air filters? Heating and Air conditioning contractors recommend homeowners to check their unit’s air filters once in every 2 months or each month during the peak seasons like summer and winter. When filters are dirty, it is important to replace them immediately, reason being that clogged filters restrict clean airflow, which in turn reduces energy efficiency and increases wear and tear on your heater or air conditioning parts.

Lower the Heat

Did you know that heating accounts for around 31% of an average home’s energy costs? To keep your home’s indoors warm and comfy without raising your energy bills, experts suggest to lower the room temperature frequently so that you can save 5% on your heating bill every cold season.

Raise the Cool

The second-biggest energy user next to a home’s furnace or heater is the air conditioner. Nudge up the thermostat so that it saves about 1-3% per degree on the cooling bill in the warm and hot seasons. Ceiling fans also serve as a boon to your cooling unit and can help make a huge difference by several degrees in keeping your home nice and cool. But an important fact to remember is that fans only cool people and not rooms. So make it a point to always turn them off when no one is around. 

Install Programmable Thermostats

To automatically adjust your home’s temperature settings according to your daily schedule, install programmable thermostats. For instance, if you leave the house for the day without turning up the AC or turning down the heat, these programmable thermostats can save a lot of energy and money in the bargain.

Weather-Seal Outlets and Openings

During the summer and winter months, air leaks around windows and doors waste cooled air in summer and heated air in winter. To prevent this from happening, you can add weatherstripping to openings in windows/doors and fill gaps around them with caulk. This way the money saved on your energy bill every month is enough to pay for the necessary materials.

Seal Ductwork

To keep dust/insects out of your unit’s ducts, improve its energy efficiency and stop the loss of expensive heated/cooled air, make it a point to seal the ductwork indoors. Air ducts made of metal air ducts are prone to leakage especially when they age.

Air-Seal and Insulate

For the best return on investment for your heating and cooling units, add insulation and air-seal areas which are the most common trouble spots. This includes your attic, basement or under the floors.

DIY Tips for Regular Air Conditioner Maintenance at Home

Preventing cooling problems at home is always wiser than to fix them. Regular maintenance of you’re A/C system will be time and effort well spent. Like any other machine that needs regular tuning, an air conditioner that is well-maintained will function more efficiently. There may not be many repairs you can do yourself as there are specific procedures to follow to keep your air conditioner operating at full efficiency. These tasks can only be carried out by a contractor who is well versed in repairing a cooling system. 

Before starting any work on your unit, make sure that the power to the system is off, especially the evaporator and condenser. Air conditioners are expensive systems and it is imperative that you undertake regular maintenance and avoid costly repairs. You can follow some simple DIY servicing tips to keep your system running like new every time.

• Switch off the power – The main power must always be turned off before commencing work. After that locate the capacitor by following directions provided by the unit’s manufacturer.
• Oil the fan motor and clean the condenser – Your condenser will be covered with dust after a period of usage, so you can clean it with a brush. After this remove the cover grill and setscrew containing the fan. This way you can gain access to the oil ports and lubricate the fan motor as specified by the manufacturer. An air conditioning contractor will probably charge around $700 to service the condenser and fan. However you can avoid this expense by doing it yourself.
• Clean the condenser coils – Using a garden hose you can clean the condenser coils by removing the coil guard. Then spray the inside unit to prevent the accumulation of water-soaked debris. The fins inside can be straightened if bent and cleaned with a fin comb.
• Inspect and adjust belts and pulleys – Belts and pulleys need to be checked periodically as worn out pulleys and loose belts will decrease air flow, shorten the compressor’s life and increase operating costs.
• Check and calibrate the thermostat – Did you know that every degree your air conditioner operates below the 78 degree mark will add 5-8 percent of your energy costs. So an improperly regulated thermostat can cause the unit to run longer than necessary.
• Recycle the refrigerant – An improper refrigerant charge can go unnoticed and increase operating costs or cause compressor shutdown. You need to hire a professional for replacing the refrigerant if is damaged beyond repair. During this process, you need to ensure that no harmful, toxic gases are leaked into the atmosphere.
• Record system temperature and pressure – Maintaining an accurate record of your system’s vital data can indicate future problems, which in turn can be averted.
• Service the filters – The most important component of an air conditioning unit is the air filter. The air that we breathe is purified by the working of the filter. If proper cleaning is not undertaken on a regular basis, then fungi and bacteria will make its way inside your home. To clean the filter, detach the casing that includes the filter. Clean the air filter with a cloth and non-abrasive soap and water. To enhance the life of the filter, you need to repeat this procedure every two weeks. Before reattaching the filter to the unit, ensure that it is completely bone dry.
• Replacement of filter – If the foam air filter is too worn out, you need to avoid using it. You can purchase a plastic electrostatic mesh filter from your local supplier which will cost around $7. Rinse it with clean water and cut the new filter with a pair of scissors. Allow it to dry completely and then install it inside.
• Service the ducts – To help remove dust and debris from the ducts, you need to clean it regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
• Undertake routine checkups – You need to check various parts like breakers, fuses and the thermostat on a regular basis and ensure that all are properly connected.

By following a regular maintenance schedule mentioned here, you can handle most problems that surface from your window or central air conditioning unit.

What every homeowner should know on Air Conditioning basics

An air conditioner does not just cool indoor air but regulate and monitor the air temperature through the means of a thermostat. The system has an onboard filter that removes harmful particulates from the circulating air. It also functions as a dehumidifier because temperature is a key factor of humidity. What the system does is to reduce the temperature of a substantial amount of humid air, which in turn causes it to release a part of its moisture. That's why if you notice there are drains and moisture-collecting pans or drains attached to air conditioners or situated near them. Air conditioning systems are known to discharge water when they function on humid days.

When you’re replacing your air conditioner unit or having it repaired/serviced, you may run into some unfamiliar terms. Here is a list given below to help you understand some basic air conditioning terms that will help you familiarize with technical terminologies:

• Air handler - It houses many critical components of the air conditioner and is the central part of the system. It includes the controls and the blower motor. However, it does not include the ductwork through which the conditioned air travels indoors to keep it cool.
• Charge – This constitutes the total amount of refrigerant in your cooling system.
• Coil - The pipes or tubes that pass through the area where the refrigerant flows and where heat transmission takes place.
• Compressor - The heart of the system is housed in a metal casing fitted outside your home. It compresses refrigerant gas and transmits via the condenser coils, where it’s converted it into liquid form. The heat from the refrigerant is removed and dispersed into the outdoor air.
• Ductwork - The distribution system that helps in carrying cooled air from the conditioning unit to the various areas in your home.
• Evaporator – The coil where the heat is absorbed by the refrigerant and transformed into gas.
• Expansion device – This device reverses the working process of the compressor as the temperature drops when the refrigerant’s pressure is decreased. The device is located inside the ducting accompanied with the presence of the furnace, where the same air handler is used without a dedicated fan.
• Thermostat – It is an automated switch with adjustable controls which can be preset to a desired range of temperature.
• MERV – Also called as the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, it provides a numerical rating of a filter’s ability to capture airborne particles that are very minute in size for e.g. 0.3 to 10 microns. The higher the MERV ratings, the better the filter performance.
• Refrigerant - The liquid that flows through the cooling system and assists in heat transfer. The refrigerant either absorbs or gives off heat when it changes from a liquid to a gas and vice versa.
• Register - The covering made of metal found over supply vents in the various areas of your home. Registers dampers or louvers for controlling the amount of air coming out.
• SEER – Also knows as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, it indicates the cooling efficiency of an air conditioner. There is a rule that air conditioning systems manufactured after January 2006 should have a SEER rating of 13 or higher. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the air conditioner.

The world of air conditioning systems has its own language and terminologies. It’s helpful and useful for homeowners to acquaint themselves with relevant terminology when upgrading their air conditioners.