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The Basics: How Your Furnace Works A traditional home comfort system has two parts: an outdoor unit, such as an air conditioner and an indoor unit. The furnace is the indoor unit that heats and circulates warm air through your home in the winter, and in the summer, it takes the cool air from the outdoor unit and works as a fan to circulate it throughout your home. The indoor and outdoor units are designed to work together. Furnace heating ability is gauged with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) percentage. A higher AFUE percentage indicates a more efficient furnace.
The basic components of a gas furnace system:
- A Burner, through which gas is delivered and burned.
- A Heat Exchanger, where the heat produced from the burning gas is transferred to the air distribution system.
- Ductwork, to transfer the heated air throughout the home.
- A Flue or Vent Pipe, to exhaust byproducts of combustion (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide) to the outside.
The efficiency of a furnace is rated using a percent of AFUE. A gas furnace uses natural gas. An electricity source is required to run the control systems, blower and some accessories. |
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Your Furnace’s Air Handling System:
Single Stage Furnaces: Modern single-stage furnaces offer new features not found on older furnaces. Features include an inducer to draw the most efficient quantity of air into the furnace, an electronic ignition system to replace the old wasteful pilot light, and a direct-drive blower that sends warmth to all the rooms in your home. These features can help make your home more comfortable and reduce heating fuel bills.
Two-Stage Furnace: Two-stage furnaces operate at low capacity during most of the operating cycle to reduce heating expenses while maintaining your level of comfort. On bitterly cold days, the second stage is available to produce extra heat.
Variable-Speed Furnace: These furnaces circulate more air throughout the home for longer periods of time, reducing air stratification room-to-room and floor-to-floor. This feature improves air quality by increasing air filtration. Variable-speed furnaces also offer significant operating cost savings and quiet operation.
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No Heat?
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When temperatures drop, your furnace may have difficulty keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.
PSE&G's special No Heat page offers tips on conserving the heat you have, and getting your heating system to work right. |
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Frequently-Asked Questions Q: My heating system isn't working very well. Should I replace it?
A: You may wish to consider replacing your heating system if it is old, inefficient or in need of repair. Today's systems are as much as 60% more efficient than those systems manufactured as little as ten years ago. In addition, if not properly maintained, wear and tear on a system can reduce the efficiency of the system.
Q: What should I look for in a heating system?
A: First, the unit should be properly sized to provide enough heat for your home. PSE&G can provide a load calculation for your home if you aren't sure. Next, consider comfort issues in your home. New heating products can reduce uneven temperatures from room to room. If you have allergies, look for systems that can filter your home's air as it circulates. Finally, know your budget parameters and the efficiency of the system being proposed.
Q: How long can I expect a new system to last?
A: Industry averages suggest that a gas furnace should last as many as 20-25 years.
Q: What is involved in replacing an old system?
A: Aside from the placement of the new equipment, your installer should inspect the other items in your heating system, such as: ductwork, insulation, piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, and grills.
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Need a New Furnace? PSE&G will replace your old furnace with quality York and Honeywell products. We offer an easy payment plan, with no money down and monthly payments right on your PSE&G bill.
For a free replacement estimate Call 1-800-539-7734 or find out more on our Gas Heating Replacement webpage.
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A Glossary of Heating Terms Here are some terms that you might hear when doing research into your heating system:
AFUE% - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a furnace's heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE%, the more efficient the product. The government's established minimum AFUE rating for furnaces is 78%.
Air Handler - The portion of the system that moves heated or cooled air throughout a home's ductwork.
Balance Point - An outdoor temperature, usually between 30° F and 45° F, at which a heat pump's output exactly equals the heating needs of the home. Below the balance point, supplementary electric resistance heat is needed to maintain indoor comfort.
Btu - British thermal unit. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water (about one pint) by one degree F.
 Evaporator Coil - The portion of a heat pump or central air conditioning system that is located in the home and functions as the heat transfer point for warming or cooling indoor air.
Split System - A heat pump or central air conditioning system with components located both inside and outside the home. The most common design for home use.
Supplementary Heat - The auxiliary or emergency heat, usually electrical resistance heat, provided at temperatures below a heat pump's balance point.
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