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Heating

New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Westbank

Heating

Even though the winters in the Greater New Orleans Metro area are wet and mild, there will always be a couple of weeks in which a homeowner will need a well functioning furnace that produces heat. Some might not know this, but an Air Conditioning System’s cooling ability is dependent on the Furnace functionality.

A common residential heating installation or furnace installation is permanently installed inside the home, usually in a centralized closet area or attic. This machine provides heat for the interior space. Modern furnaces use natural gas or electricity although some do run on oil, coal or liquid petroleum gas to provide heat throughout the home.

How a Gas Furnace Works

Gas furnaces are referred to as a forced air system. Once it is activated by the thermostat, an electrical signal will cause a relay circuit to open the gas valve which will move the gas to the furnaces’ burners and will then turn the blower motor on. The burners are lit using a pilot light or ignition system inside the furnace which creates heat within a metal chamber called a heat exchanger. The forced air then moves across the heat exchanger thus warming it. The air is then forced into a hot air plenum, and then into the ducts which circulate the warm air throughout the home.

There are also gasses that are created during the combustion process inside the heat exchanger. These gasses are vented through a separate passageway commonly referred to as the furnace chimney or flue. It is quite common for a furnace and gas water heater to share a single flue or chimney. These structures safely evacuate the combustion gasses outdoors.

Types of Furnaces

There are three common types of furnace:

Single-stage furnaces

Single stage furnaces are the simplest of furnace design. These units are either on or off. Because of this, these furnace units are usually noisy because it runs at maximum speed which rushes the air into the home. These furnaces are inexpensive to purchase and install due to the simplicity of their design. Single stage furnaces are also slightly less economical as far as energy costs are concerned.

Two-stage furnace

A two stage furnace can adjust its two operation stages as the thermostat calls for heat. They can run at full speed or at reduced or half speed depending on how much heat is required. Two stage units are usually quieter as the air moves at a lower velocity which also gives the home a more even and consistent temperature. Two stage furnaces have a more complex design and are usually a slight upgrade from single stage furnace configurations.

Modulating furnaces

A modulating furnace has multiple stages of heating. These units are more complex in design in that they are able to operate at various speeds which tend to keep the home at a steady, constant temperature. These furnace designs are more economical and efficient because they constantly regulate the amount of heat being released into the home. Modulating furnaces require a more advanced installation process. Most of the higher quality furnaces that manufacturers produce are of the modulating type.
Here are some common heating/ furnace terms

Air Handler

An air handler is the indoor part of an air conditioning system that moves the cooled or heater air throughout the ductwork within the home.

AFUE

This is a measurement of furnace heating efficiency. It stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace.

BTU

British Thermal Unit. This is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the BTU rating, the greater the heating capacity of the system.

CO

Carbon Monoxide- carbon monoxide is an odorless tasteless and poisonous gas that is a by product if inefficient combustion. As natural gas is burned, carbon monoxide is produced. Carbon monoxide leakage is important to prevent and can be easily detected by a licensed HVAC contractor.

Ductwork

Ducting or ductwork are usually synthetic or metal tubes that are used to transport air throughout the home.

Heat Exchanger

A heat exchanger operates by transferring the heat within the furnace to the air that is pumped over/ through it. It is composed of metal sheets that are curved and layered side by side. This warmed air is then dispersed throughout the home.

Heat Pump

A heat pump works by moving heat either indoors from outdoors or from outdoors inward. Heat pumps are more complex in design and usually work with a combination of refrigerants and electrical components.

Horizontal Flow

This term is used to describe a furnace that is position on its side and circulates the air from one end and out into the other. This design is most commonly used for attic or crawlspace installations.

HVAC

This is an industry term that means Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Split System

This is the most common type of residential heating and air conditioning system. It simply means that the entire system is composed of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a thermostat.

Upflow Furnace

This describes a furnace that is installed in an upright position and moves the air across the heat exchanger from the bottom to the top. This configuration is usually found in closets, attics and basements.

Variable Speed Motor

This is a type of motor that operates at various speeds to control the airflow. These units are typically quieter, more efficient, and provide a more evenly distributed and consistent temperature throughout the home.
More on furnace efficiency

A furnaces AFUE is the measure of a gas furnaces ability to convert fuel (gas) into energy (heat).

A more efficient furnace has a higher AFUE than a lower efficient one. The AFUE number is expressed as a percentage. This percentage is the amount of gas that is used versus the loss or byproduct. So, an 80% efficient furnace will burn approximately 80% of the gas that it consumes. This also means for every $1.00 of energy expense, .80 of it is actually going to heating the home. That is twenty cents of fuel that is not going into heating the home. This extra fuel is simply not burned and is expelled with the other furnace byproducts via the flue. On the other end of the spectrum, a higher efficient unit with an AFUE of 95% will utilize 95 percent of the fuel that is being pumped into the furnace unit. Therefore only 5 cents is lost. Higher efficiency units are a little more costly on the front end of the installation process, but can drastically reduce heating costs in the long run.

There are several advantages of having a furnace system. These include multipurpose ducting, parts are easily found and repair can be a simple process, also as the air moves throughout the home, it is pushed through the filtration system which reduces allergens and improves indoor air quality. Natural gas furnaces typically heat very quickly and move air well thus keeping your home warm and cozy.

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