Most of us have lived in a house with a furnace at some point in our lives. Due to their efficiency, low-effort maintenance, and ability to work in extreme weather conditions, furnaces are extremely common in Canadian homes. While most homeowners understand what a furnace is and why they’re necessary, how a furnace works is not always common knowledge. That’s why the experts at Fahrhall have put together an easy guide to help our customers understand how furnaces work!

How Does A Furnace Work?
When our customers ask us how furnaces work, they’re often asking about gas furnaces so we’ll use a gas furnace as an example, however, other models of furnaces often work in a similar way. A gas furnace works by pulling in the cold air from your home and using burning natural gas to heat it, then the newly warmed air is directed by a blower fan into your home’s ductwork while any exhaust from the process is sent outside your home through the furnace’s exterior exhaust pipe. The warm air is dispersed throughout your home via your home’s ductwork, then, once your home is warm enough the furnace shuts off, only to start again when the temperature of your home has dipped.

The Parts Of A Furnace

• Air Filter: A fabric membrane that is used to collect dust, dirt, and other debris from the air.
• Blower Fan: A small electric fan used to distribute warm air throughout the home
• Burners: Small outlets that emit gas to produce small controlled flames to heat the air
• Control Board: Your furnace’s brain and the main centre of function. This board sends out signals to the right places to ensure that your home stays comfortable.
• Flame Detector: A threshold to ensure that the gas from your furnace doesn’t build up dangerously.
• Gas Valves: Regulates gas pressure inside
• Ignitor: The device that lights the gas to warm the air

Furnace Maintenance And Care
Part of understanding how furnaces work is understanding how to take care of them properly. While furnaces are fairly low maintenance, there are a few things that a homeowner can and should do to ensure their furnace works properly and lives a long life. These practices include:

• Changing the furnace filter at least once every 90 days, and checking to make sure it’s clean once every 30 days
• Keep proper carbon monoxide and fire alarms working in your home
• Keep flammable objects and chemicals away from your furnace
• Call for annual preventative maintenance from the experts at Fahrhall

Has your furnace been serviced in the last year?
Schedule a fall maintenance appointment with Fahrhall!

Fahrhall has been proudly serving the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent regions since 1967. Our goal is to provide our clients and our community with reliable service and quality equipment.

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