Denver Heating Systems, Furnace Information and Heating Repair

Winters are cold in the Denver area and because of this, most homes have a furnace, usually gas but some electric furnaces are in use. In this Denver HVAC guide we discuss the basics of Denver heating systems and help you understand how gas furnaces you’ll find in your Denver home works to provide heat.

Knowing how your furnace works will give you the knowledge you need to discuss your Denver heating repair or replacement issues with a heating contractor and make the decision that’s in your best interest.

How Your Heating Furnace Works

When your thermostat calls for heat, a small motor known as the draft inducer motor starts. Its purpose is to draw in air for combustion as well as to determine that the flue is clear for exhaust gases to vent from the furnace out of the house. If the flue is clear, the gas valve opens to let gas into the burner. The burner is housed in a sealed combustion chamber so that no gas or exhaust can leak into your home or mix with air being circulated into your home.

Your furnace may have an electronic igniter or a hot surface igniter to ignite the gas. Once lit, it begins to heat air that is being drawn in and passed through the furnace. Heated air, called combustion gases, passes through the furnace’s heat exchanger and then leaves the furnace and your home through the vent.

The furnace blower motor pulls air into the furnace through the return ducts. It passes the air over the heat exchanger to warm it and then pushes the air into your home through the supply ducts. The burner continues to fire and the blower continues to circulate air until the air in your home warms up to the desired level. Some furnaces have only one heat exchanger and may be as low as 80% efficient. This means that 80% of the heat they create enters your home and 20% is wasted out the vent.

Electric Air Handlers

If your home has an electric furnace, it works more like a huge blow dryer for hair! The heat is created by a series of heating coils instead of a gas burner. The heat is pushed directly into the home by the blower. There is no need for a heat exchanger or a vent because no dangerous exhaust gases are created. Electric furnaces cost more to run due to the higher price of electricity, but they can be of use where it is impossible to vent the furnace or run a gas line.