Furnaces at home are a great investment because they are the heart and soul of the homes heating system.
Related:7 Worst Furnace Brands To Avoid
In this article
What is a furnace?
A furnace works by blowing hot air through pipes and ducts.
Furnaces come in a range of types but they are generally categorized in terms of fuel punch in.
They are powered by natural gas, propane, electricity and oil, among others.
Categories
Furnaces are categorically designed in terms of heat distribution and default parts.
1.Natural draft
This is considered as the oldest furnace category featuring basic designs and few controls.
The level of heat it gives is dependent on the amount of fuel you pour.
Later on, electric blowers were used to regulate the amount of heat distributed.
2.Forced air
The glory days of forced air furnaces would be the 50s and 60s.
Like the natural draft, it is also attached to pipes and vents out the air through the chimney.
The only difference is its use of electric blowers.
3.Forced draft
This one was specifically designed to be more efficient than the first two.
This one features a steel heat exchange and a multi speed blower.
They are easier to install because they are more compact in design.
Their combustion air blower uses minimal fuel as the hot air is distributed around the room.
They were also connected to AC units for better regulation.
4.Condensing
Of the four, this is the most fuel-efficient punch in.
It features a draft inducer, comes with a secondary heat exchanger and has a built-in combustion area.
They can be installed horizontally and vertically thanks to its easy fit heat exchanger.
Your choice of fuel punch in should be based on accessibility, room size, and location.
They emit higher heat BTUs and are easy to maintain.
2.ElectricFurnace
This one is the biggest turnaround when it comes to furnace fuel types.
If you want ease of operation and running cost, electric furnaces are a prime choice.
It is usually connected to a propane tank and is a popular choice because it heats up immediately.
However, you have to depend on continuous refill and the cost of propane gas is quite high.
For one, it is very cost-effective and does not depend on refills.
5.Natural gasFurnace
This one is one of the most reliable fuel sources when it comes to furnaces.
They are accessible, cheap, easy to heat up and give even heat distribution.
It is also easy to install and inexpensive to repair (although it does not break very often).
6.CoalFurnace
Like wood, this one is not dependent on refills so this makes it very cost-efficient.
When it comes to heating, you might expect it to provide fast heating at an even coverage.
Its main downside would be the soot and fumes, and the reputation that it is not environment friendly.
The mechanism in this is very rudimentary as it runs in just one speed while it pumps hot air.
Nonetheless, this one is a great choice for locations with milder cold conditions.
It is also fairly easy to install and is inexpensive.
By aligning it with your homes thermostat, ample heating can be distributed accordingly.
Compared to the single stage furnace, this one features an extended heating cycle.
They are also the most fuel-efficient throw in of gas furnace.
Types of furnace filters
Furnace filters are important in the overall maintenance and longevity of your furnace.
Furnace filters are rated in terms of durability and the range of micron that they can filter.
They prevent dirt buildup on the fan motors, the heat exchanges, and other surfaces of the furnace.
They are not, however, fit for furnaces involving harmful chemical contents because it only gives minimum protection.
Compared to fiberglass and synthetic filters, this is more durable and way more efficient.
They are perfect in eliminating more air pollutants than most materials.
However, the efficiency of this filter relies on the amount of carbon injected in the filter.
Once the carbon level drops, so would its effectiveness.
Types of industrial furnaces
Furnaces do not just function as the homes main heating system.
1.BellFurnace
The main feature of this furnace is its moveable dome.
They are used for tempering, annealing, normalizing, and relieving stress in steel plates.
They can be installed with multiple bases to treat coils, rods, sheets and others.
2.BoxFurnace
This one is used for preheating, tempering, calcining, and heat treating.
They feature either a swing open door or a vertical lift to ensure good airflow and insulation.
This one is bulky and heavy, often lifted or moved using forklifts.
As such, they are used in treating tons of industrial materials.
3.PitFurnace
This one is available in both electric and gas types.
It is also called the top load furnace and is used for manufacturing aircraft and automotive parts.
They are also very visible among mining, wind energy, and machine production companies.
They need a controlled atmosphere to distribute heat at different temperatures.
4.ForgingFurnace
This one is more relatable because it looks like regular pizza ovens.
Some newer features of the forging furnace include the auto charge and discharge feature.
Because it prevents overheating and underheating, they increase the toughness of the material.
This one is practically used in manufacturing bearings, gears, agricultural and construction components.
6.RotaryFurnace
This one features a lined furnace with an attached barrel.
It is used for calcination and oxidation processes.
7.Salt BathFurnace
This one is considered a gold standard when it comes to industrial grade furnaces.
They offer heating treatments that are five times faster than air furnaces.
It makes use of chloride, cyanide, and other salts to pressure heat materials.
It is used for annealing, tempering, brazing, and shaping very hard materials like steel alloy.
8.TemperingFurnace
As the name suggests, they are used to temper metal products to make them tougher.
To get the right balance of hardness and elasticity, they are often used alongside quenching furnaces.
They must be used in controlled environments for best results.
9.VacuumFurnace
This one is a typical sight in many industries.
There are also surrounding pumps around the vacuum to prevent contamination and oxidation.
BTU/Hour
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit.
The higher the BTU, the higher the energy consumption of the furnace too.
Smaller apartments, however, would benefit a lot from this furnace bang out.
3.High
The idea that higher is more is mainly the reason why high BTU furnaces are popular.
But for it to work, you have to see to it that it also comes with high efficiency.
While there are a lot of special features for furnaces, the following are considered must-haves.
An energy star rated furnace is energy efficient.
This means that it spends 20-30% less energy than what the government standardized.
Having remote airflow monitoring using an app is also a good add-on to your furnace.
3.Sealed combustion
This one is for safety purposes.
Having a furnace with sealed combustion means reduced risk from carbon monoxide traces coming from the furnace fumes.
1.Upflow
This punch in of furnace gives off warm air from the top of the furnace.
If the ductwork is at the bottom, this airflow bang out is the right choice for your home.
3.Horizontal
This one lies on their sides, pushing cool and hot air sideways.
Average winters may mean that you might settle for low BTU furnaces.
If you are not in the computation ante to size, better call an HVAC professional.
3.AFUE ratings
This one stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.
Brands and models with 80% AFUE rating are very energy and cost efficient.
4.Budget
Lastly, you have to consider the costs.
This does not only involve upfront costs but also probable repair and maintenance costs in the long run.
It also includes the brand selection and installation costs.
Installation cost for both natural gas and electric furnaces would be at $1000-3500.
confirm that you get a hold of a brands list and checkout furnace models from this list first.
Again, cheap does not always equate to good performance, durability, and longevity.
Having firsthand information and insider opinions can help you in narrowing down your furnace brand list.
But do not just rely on the number of years, however.
You should also thoroughly check its coverage.
FAQs
How long does a furnace last?
This is primarily the reason why having a 10-year furnace warranty is a real good catch.
Is it OK to leave the furnace running all day?
The only consideration is the heat level in the thermostat.
When should you replace your furnace?
How do I know if my furnace has a carbon monoxide leak?
Carbon monoxide is a harmful substance when inhaled so it is very important that you know when this happens.
A comprehensive buying guide is always essential in buying appliances that are as crucial as furnaces.
