For efficient and reliable heating throughout a frigid Minnesota winter, a forced-air system is ideal for most homes. It delivers heated air from the furnace or heat pump in every part of your home, and can be utilized for air conditioning during the summer months.
When used in a central furnace set-up, a forced-air system works by pulling cold air into your furnace where it’s heated. The heated air is then blown through your ducts and forced out of the heat registers to warm your home.
Here are the mechanics of a forced-air system:
- A blower sucks cool air through return ducts and into the furnace.
- When the temperature in your home falls below the desired level, the thermostat, typically mounted on your wall in a central location, sends a signal to the igniter, which allows the proper amount of gas to be released into the burner.
- A row of tubes constitutes the burner. There a proper ratio of air and fuel are mixed and burned inside the combustion chamber with the highest energy efficiency possible.
- The heat exchanger passes air over the flame, warming it, and then your blower sends it through a network of supply ducts in the house and out the registers.
- Heat registers located in most or all of the rooms in your home can be adjusted to control the amount of airflow needed.
- Exhaust fumes from burning the gas or oil are safely vented outside the house.
To help your forced-air system run more efficiently, make sure your cold air return grilles and heat registers are not obstructed, allowing for maximum airflow. The furnace uses an air filter, which collects dust and debris and should be inspected monthly and changed when dirty.
For more expert advice on how your furnace’s forced-air system works and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been providing quality HVAC services to the Twin Cities Metro Area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace basics and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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