Understanding And Maintaining Your Gas Furnace

Posted on: 1 July 2016

Maintaining your home is important to protect your financial investment, but certain tasks can also improve your home's comfort and efficiency. If you are part of the majority of households that utilize a central furnace heating system, full understanding of this system is smart to ensure it remains in proper working condition. Using this guide, you will understand how a gas furnace works and learn the best techniques to maintain your system's efficiency.

Gas Furnace 101

Your home's central furnace will utilize a burner to heat a mixture of gas and air. As the air is heated, the furnace forces it through the heat exchanger to move it into the ductwork. Once the heated air hits the ductwork, it can be transported into your home through various room vents.

One of the greatest benefits of heating your home through a gas furnace is the reduction in your energy usage. Of course, you will need to pay for gas to use your furnace. Determining the exact cost of gas needed to heat your home will depend on current market rates, but a furnace that offers a higher AFUE will be the most efficient option.

AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency, represents the efficiency of your gas furnace. A furnace with a 90 percent AFUE rating means 90 percent of gas goes towards heating your home. The higher your AFUE, the more efficient your system will be.

Maintaining your Gas Furnace

Maintaining your system is essential to maximize its efficiency and function. To get started, locate the filter in your furnace. In most cases, the filter will be located behind the panel below the air duct. Remove the panel cover and the filter.

After removing the filter, you will see the furnace's blower. Dirt, dust, and debris will clog up your blower assembly, reducing its ability to move conditioned air into your home. Remove this visible debris by wiping the blower assembly down with a damp cloth. Replace the old filter with a new one and reattach the panel cover.

Use a vacuum attachment to suction dirt and dust from vent openings inside your home, as well. If there is heavy buildup on the vent covers, remove and soak in a solution containing warm water and liquid dish soap. Be sure the vent covers are dry before reinstalling.

Heating your home with a gas furnace is an excellent option for efficiency and comfort, but proper understanding is key. With this guide, you will understand how your furnace works and learn how to maintain your system's function in an easy, stress-free manner. For more information, contact a heating repair service.

Share

ventillation in your home - is it adequate?

Is your home properly ventilated? Do you have a hood vent in your kitchen that you can use when you are cooking? Do you have a vent in your bathroom to turn on while you are showering? Do you actually use the ventilation systems in your home as they should be used? Our blog will show you what types of systems need to be installed in every home and how to use them properly. We will show you what problems can be caused by ignoring the lack of ventilation in the different areas of the home and how to resolve them.