What is Central Heat and Air?

Central heat and air is a combination of heating, cooling and ventilation that keeps your home comfortable all year. It includes a furnace, a thermostat and ductwork.

These systems work with a liquid or gas fuel source such as oil, kerosene, coal or electricity. Liquid fuels are less costly to operate than gas and require little maintenance.

What is the Furnace?

A furnace is a home appliance that heats air and circulates it through your ductwork system to warm up the rest of your house. Having a better understanding of how your furnace works can help you understand whether it’s working properly, or if you need to get a new one.

A gas furnace starts when the thermostat sends a signal to the control system, which turns the gas valve on and opens the burners to ignite the fuel in the combustion chamber. The flames in the burners heat up a metal heat exchanger and release the combustion exhaust through the flue to vent outside the home.

A blower fan circulates heated air throughout the house depending on your thermostat’s demand for warmth, and return ducts direct colder air back into the furnace to keep it running efficiently. Furnaces are usually gas fueled but can also be electric, oil or propane powered.

What is the Thermostat?

A thermostat is a device that controls your central heat and air system. It senses the temperature in your home and turns your heating on or off based on the setting you have chosen.

Thermostats are a great way to conserve energy and keep your heating bills low. However, you do need to be aware of how they work and know the difference between settings.

Mechanical thermostats use thermal expansion to switch an electric circuit on and off. The most common type uses bimetallic strips and gas-filled bellows to do this.

A bimetallic strip (shown here) is fashioned from two different types of metal that expand and contract when heated or cooled. As the strip heats up, one of the metals expands enough to push against a microswitch and turn the electrical circuit on.

What is the Ductwork?

The ductwork is the system of tubes, or ducts, that bring air from your furnace or air conditioner to different areas of your home. It is one of the most important components of your central heat and air system, and understanding how it works will help you maintain your HVAC equipment and save you money on energy costs.

The ducts will usually be located in the attic, basement or crawlspace, and they can be made from galvanized steel or aluminum. They are typically insulated and have flexible piping for bending.

Ducts are generally sized to allow air to move smoothly from the furnace or air handler to all rooms in your house. Professionals who install ductwork will fine-tune the system to maximize efficiency and comfort while saving you on heating and cooling costs.

If your ductwork is not properly sized, it can result in less comfort or worse indoor air quality. If your ductwork has deteriorated over time, it can also cause air leaks that could lead to a drop in energy efficiency.

What is the AC Unit?

The AC Unit is a key part of your home's heating and cooling system. It has several important parts that make it work like a well-oiled machine.

The most obvious is the air conditioner, but there are a few more crucial components to the whole system.

This is where the magic happens: Your AC's compressor (the powerhouse of your air conditioning system) works to squeeze a coolant called Freon into a coil in the condenser, which dissipates the heat from the inside of your house.

The coolant then passes through the evaporator to remove its heat, and your home is cool and dry again. The most impressive ac unit is the one that reaches its highest level of efficiency, which will save you money on your energy bill. Be sure to look for the AC unit that has a high BTU output and is the right size for your home. The best ones will keep your home cool, dry, and comfortable year-round.

Batesville electric Heating & Air

870-698-1416

What is Central Heat and Air? Central heat and air is a combination of heating, cooling and ventilation that keeps your home comfortable all year. It includes a furnace, a thermostat and ductwork. These systems work with a liquid or gas fuel source such as oil, kerosene, coal or electricity. Liquid fuels are less costly…