Heating your home is essential during the cold Canadian winters. Not only does your heating system keep you and your family comfortable, but it also keeps your home comfortable. For instance, without heat, your home’s water pipes could freeze and possibly burst, causing you thousands of dollars in damage. When it comes to keeping your home warm there are several options. One option is to go with a gas furnace. Read on to learn all about gas furnaces and ensure that your home is ready for the colder months ahead.
What is a Gas Furnace?
A gas furnace is one of the many ways in which you can heat your home this winter. Different from the other types of furnaces, such as electric or convection heaters, gas furnaces run off of natural gas. Gas furnaces have the ability to quickly and efficiently heat your home.
How Does a Gas Furnace Work?
As mentioned, a gas furnace uses natural gas to heat your home. Understanding how the heating cycle works with your furnace can help you understand and diagnose issues in the future.
The heating cycle starts with your thermostat signalling your furnace to turn on. Thermostats can be customized to turn on and shut off at a specific temperature, not allowing your home to get any cooler or warmer than desired. Once your thermostat tells your furnace to turn on, natural gas will flow towards the burner on your furnace. Once ignited, the incoming air will pass through and get heated before it returns to the ducts and is spread throughout your home. The hot air that is distributed throughout a room will push all the cold air back into the ducts, which will eventually be heated. This cycle will repeat until your home is at the set temperature, then the furnace will shut-off.
Tip: The most common issue with furnaces start with your thermostat. If your heat is not turning on, be sure to see if your thermostat needs batteries before calling a pro.
Gas furnaces are completely safe for your home and actually filter out combustion waste from entering your home. The air which is run through the furnace is pushed through a hot-air plenum in which a flue captures the exhausts and directs it away from the home. This ensures that your home and family are protected from any toxins.
How Much Does a Gas Furnace Cost?
There are many different models of furnaces available to have installed in your home. All have their pros and cons and a pro can help determine which model is best for your home and budget. On average you can expect to pay $4,995 for your HVAC system. For more information on the model type and associated costs, check out HomeStars’ heating and cooling cost guide.
Heating your home this winter is essential for your family and your home. Be sure to check your system before the cold weather comes. If you need an update or have to install a new furnace, be sure to connect with a pro in your area.
