Almost 35 million American homes are installed with a forced air furnace. Many Wichita Falls homeowners have similarly chosen to install this efficient and effective home heating system.
How It Works
A forced air furnace pulls interior air through metal return ductwork and into a furnace, where this air becomes filtered and heated. The heated air is then blown back into living spaces through the supply ductwork. Most systems utilize natural gas or electricity to create this heat.
Basic Components
- Thermostat – This controls your furnace’s heating cycles and allows you to set the desired indoor temperature.
- Furnace – This is the main unit that heats air. Furnaces will either utilize flame-producing burners or electric coils to generate heat.
- Air handler – This is also known as a blower and is the fan that forces air out of the furnace and through the supply ductwork.
- Supply ductwork – This is the network of large metal ducts that act as your home’s distribution channel for the heated air blown from your furnace.
- Return ductwork – These are the metal pipes that carry cooled and stale air from your rooms back into your furnace to be re-conditioned.
Advantages of a Forced Air System
- Easy installation – This system can be easily combined with a central air conditioning unit. Both systems use the same vents and ductwork to provide homes with comfortable indoor temperatures all year long.
- Speed – Forced air heating systems quickly generate heat throughout a home and keep it heated at a relatively even temperature.
- Energy efficient – Using a programmable thermostat to set heating cycles and turn the system on and off allows it to be more energy efficient.
- Central filtration – A forced air furnace can be fitted with a central air filter. This allows air drawn from your rooms to be filtered before being heated and recirculated throughout your home, thus creating a healthier indoor environment.
To learn more about forced-air furnaces, or about other HVAC products and solutions, contact your local experts at James Lane Air Conditioning & Plumbing Co.
