The Role of Furnaces in an HVAC System: How They Work Together
When the temperature drops in late autumn, everyone switches their air from ‘cool’ to ‘heat’. But what happens behind the scenes as your HVAC system warms up for the cold season? While Florida often focuses on air conditioning during the hot months, furnaces or electric heaters are equally important when the weather gets chilly.
Today, we’re diving into the role of your furnace as part of your HVAC system. You will learn more about the marvels of a dual-unit system that can share the same central air design to keep your home comfortable all year.
How Furnaces Operate in Your HVAC System
Your furnace is responsible for generating heat when it comes time to warm your home in the winter. Florida homes use several types of furnaces, including gas and electric heaters. No matter how your heater is built, however, they each serve the same role in the unified HVAC system.
1. Thermostat Setting and Detection
When set to ‘heat’, your thermostat uses the set temperature as a minimum. When your thermostat detects that the temperature has fallen below the set temperature, it switches on the furnace and the blower fan.
2. Ignition or Electric Heating
When furnaces receive a signal, they begin their heating cycle. A gas furnace opens a gas valve near the pilot light, creating a small flame that produces heat. An electric heater runs electricity through a heating element, which gets hot in response to the current flow — like your oven.
3. Air Circulation
Once there are hot elements, your AC’s blower fan activates to cycle air through the heated furnace chamber. The blower fan first pulls cool air from your home’s return ducts and then pushes it over the heat exchanger. The system warms the air and pushes it through your home’s ductwork, distributing it evenly through the vents into each room for whole-home heating.
4. Ventilation System
In the case of gas or fuel-burning furnaces, the combustion gases also need to be safely vented outdoors. These furnaces use an exhaust system to expel carbon monoxide safely outdoors, keeping your indoor air clean and fresh.
The HVAC System: A Well-Oiled Machine
The wonderful thing about furnaces as part of HVAC systems is how they all work together. Your HVAC system is more than just a collection of parts. It is a complex machine that achieves year-round comfort with very few moving parts. Here’s how it all works together:
- Year-Round Comfort: With both a furnace and AC, the two systems work together to ensure your home is always comfortable. They take turns depending on the weather. During the summer and the hot months of spring and fall, your AC handles cooling. When the temperature drops in the winter, your furnace takes over to keep your home toasty and warm until the heat comes back. This ensures a seamless transition between seasons.
- Shared Components: Your AC and furnace may be two separate units, but they share your home’s air ventilation system. The same intake, blower fan, ducts, and vents are used whether your home is heating or cooling. The blower fan pushes air to create comfortable airflow and cycle air over either the cooling coils or heating elements. This efficient design ensures that you only need one HVAC system with heating and cooling capabilities.
- Humidity Control: Florida humidity control is essential in the summer and winter. Both the AC’s condensation process and the furnace’s heating contribute to pulling moisture out of the air for year-round comfort. But if you need more humidity, you can install a whole-home humidifier sharing the same ducts to keep your environment at just the right level.
Maintenance: Keeping Your System Efficient
Regular maintenance is the best way to keep furnaces and HVAC systems running smoothly. You will get the best comfort and energy efficiency with routine inspections, cleanings, and timely repairs.
- Filter Changes: Regular filter changes ensure that your air intake is never clogged and contributes to clean air throughout your home. Clean filters also contribute to efficient HVAC performance and energy conservation.
- Annual Tune-Ups: Annual tune-ups should be scheduled for furnace and AC units to ensure each set of components is performing at their best. This also reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns.
- Ductwork Inspections: Every few years, have your ducts inspected for air leaks and cleaned of built-up dust. This will increase your home’s HVAC efficiency and air quality at the same time.
The Wonders of Furnaces
As the weather turns cold, Mid-Fla Heating & Air is here to keep your home heating comfortably and efficiently. Schedule an early-season maintenance check to prepare your heater for a season of great performance and put your AC away for the winter at the same time. We’re here to ensure your system is running efficiently, so you can enjoy reliable comfort in every season.
