How Does My Furnace Work?
Most people have gas furnaces heating their homes because these systems work well and are more efficient than ever. It’s helpful to know how one heats your home so if something goes wrong you have some idea what the problem may be. The Heating Cycle There’s a pipe that runs to your utility’s natural gas line and your furnace. When the gas enters your furnace, a burner lights it. Exhaust from burning the gas is vented outside your home. Cold air from your home passes through the furnace and is heated. A blower fan pushes the warmed air back into your home through ductwork. Thermostat There’s a thermostat inside your home that’s hard-wired to the furnace. It tells the furnace when to turn on and off according to your desired temperature. Burners Gas is ignited in the burners. The burners maintain controlled flames. Igniter The gas in your furnace is lit by an igniter. In modern furnaces, the igniter emits a spark that causes gas to ignite. Old gas furnaces used to have a pilot light that served the same purpose. Flame Detector This is a safety device that turns off the supply of gas if the igniter should fail....
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