Take a Look at What’s Inside Your Furnace

One of the most expensive pieces of equipment inside your home is the furnace. It can cost thousands of dollars to purchase, and will ultimately determine how much you spend on utility bills each month. 

While you don’t need a thorough understanding of how it works, if you learn the basics, you can identify problems and help extend the lifespan of your furnace. Learning what’s inside your furnace ensures your heating equipment is always working as well as possible. 

Today’s gas furnaces have three core components:

• Air filter
• Blower motor
• Heat exchanger

If you hear HVAC companies touting the benefits of replacing an air filter regularly, you already understand the importance an air filter has to your furnace. An air filter is located near the blower compartment. It’s responsible for taking out dust, pollutants, and other contaminants from the air supply before it enters the HVAC equipment. 

Air filters are the most common piece of equipment you’ll deal with in your furnace. It should be replaced at the beginning of the season at a minimum, or monthly for active homes. Not replacing it regularly can impact your furnace in a variety of ways, including 

• Reducing air quality
• Increasing energy costs
• Damaging the furnace 
• Shortening the lifespan
• Buildup inside the furnace

The blower motor is a fan that pushes and pulls air throughout the duct system located inside your house. Without a proper functioning blower motor, the air supply won’t move throughout the ductwork and vent system effectively. You’ll find hot or cold spots throughout your home. 

A number of things can happen to the blower motor over time. Something can get caught in the fan blades, preventing them from pushing the air supply. Grime or buildup can slow down function. The electrical components can burn out. The parts eventually wear out. 

The heat exchanger is the heart of a gas furnace. It draws gas in through the appropriate lines. A pilot light ignites, starting the heating system into action. The blower motor activates and sends heat throughout the home as it creates heat. 

Keeping the heat exchanger in good working condition is mandatory for the success of your furnace. If it’s not cleaned or well maintained, grime, pollutants, and bacteria can enter and settle inside the system. If this builds, it can impact your health and your home in various ways. 

That’s why it’s important to ensure the core components of your furnace are working well throughout the year. 

If you haven’t scheduled a yearly inspection, make today the day to ensure your HVAC equipment is operating well and keeping you safe along the way.