How Your Heating System Works As A Unit
Understanding how your heating system works can help you increase your home’s energy efficiency. Winters throughout Florida are typically mild, but it’s not uncommon to want to take the morning chill away or heat the house during an occasional cold snap. Many HVAC systems in Florida are heat pumps, since these are the most cost-effective ways to heat and cool homes. In the heating mode, both heat pumps and furnace systems operate basically the same, although the fuels to create heat differ.
Heating systems use three essential parts. The first is the furnace or, in the case of heat pumps, an air handler. The second part is the ductwork that supplies heated air throughout the house, and the third is the thermostat, which turns the system on and off. All three parts work together synergistically to keep your home comfortable.
Furnaces carry a rating about their annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, and heat pumps have ratings that describe their heating season performance factor, or HSPF. Higher ratings for either of these systems mean that the units use fuel more efficiently. A heat pump works effectively up to 35 degrees or so, while a fuel-driven furnace creates heat from combustion, and outdoor temperatures do not affect its performance.
When the heat pump or furnace reaches a high enough temperature, the blower motor kicks on, and warmed air is delivered throughout your home. If your ductwork is properly sized for your home, your home heats up efficiently. Any leaks inside your ductwork reduce the heating performance of your heating system, decreasing your comfort and increasing your utility bills.
One of the most important parts of the heating system is the air filter, which keeps dust and dirt away from the internal parts of the air handler. Regardless of how well your system is designed, if the filter is clogged, you lose heating effectiveness and decrease the life of your system.
If you’d like to learn more about heating systems and increasing your comfort this winter, please contact Symbiont Service Corp.for more information. We can answer any HVAC-related questions you may have.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heating systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Symbiont Service Corp. serves Englewood, Florida and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
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