When outdoor temperatures drop and cold weather sets in, you need a reliable heating source on hand to keep your home or office warm. Gas-burning furnaces use affordable natural gas as a fuel source to provide you with fast heat, better air quality, and more.
We explore how these systems work below and how Cape Cod Heat Pumps can help you get cost-effective heating you can count on, even on the coldest nights.
Why Use Natural Gas as Fuel?
According to the Department of Energy, natural gas is commonly used for heating because it’s:
Affordable
Compared to propane, oil, and wood heat, natural gas is usually a more affordable option.
Widely Available
Natural gas comes through already-existing underground pipelines, so large storage containers like oil drums or propane tanks aren’t necessary to hold fuel on-site.
Versatile
Gas can be used for more than just heating, and you can also connect stoves, clothes dryers, and other appliances to your gas line.
Highly Efficient
Today’s furnaces have high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings, which means more fuel is converted into usable heat and less is wasted during combustion.
Produces Fewer Emissions
Natural gas also burns cleaner and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other fossil fuels like oil.
Understanding the Furnace Heating Cycle
The furnace heating cycle begins with your thermostat. When the temperature in your space falls below the setting on this device, it will signal your furnace to turn on. This opens the flow of gas to the system’s burner, where it gets ignited. The combustion process is what creates heat, which in turn warms the metal surfaces of your furnace’s heat exchanger.
Then, cold air is drawn into the system and over the exchanger, causing the air to absorb heat before it’s circulated through your ductwork. Finally, the blower fan will start to move the warm air through your ducts, so it can be delivered to different rooms.
When your thermostat detects that the ambient temperature in your space has reached its target, it will signal your furnace to shut off to conserve energy and maintain a consistent temperature. This cycle repeats indefinitely to keep your space cozy.
Furnaces vs. Other Heating Systems
Now that you have a basic idea of what a furnace is and how it works, let’s take a closer look at how these appliances stack up against other heating systems:
Furnaces vs. Electric Space Heaters
Electric space heaters are usually small and portable, which allows them to be easily moved from room to room. Although this offers some convenience when you need on-the-spot heating, it’s rarely enough heating to keep an entire room — let alone an office or house — warm.
They are also expensive to run and pose a serious fire hazard. In fact, these heaters are responsible for a whopping 88% of home heating fire deaths according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Furnaces vs. Wood Stoves
While wood stoves can provide a cozy ambiance and give you off-grid heating capabilities, they require a constant supply of wood. They also create a lot of ash and soot that gets sent into your air. Gas-burning furnaces offer cleaner heating without the need for storing cords of wood on your property.
Furnaces vs. Boilers
Like a hot water heater, boilers work by heating water in a tank. Then, hot water and steam are sent through a system of pipes under your floors or around your baseboards. These typically take a long time to heat up and can require extra maintenance.
Furnaces vs. Heat Pumps
Ductless heat pumps and furnaces both provide excellent heating and energy-efficiency without a hefty monthly bill. A furnace can also serve as a great backup system to a ductless unit to make sure you never have to go without the heating you need.
Do You Need Reliable Heating?
If your home or business is in need of a dependable heating system you can count on through thick and thin this winter, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Cape Cod Heat Pumps. Our technicians can answer your questions and help guide you towards the right solution for your heating needs. Contact us today by calling (508) 833-4822 or get a quote online.