Know Your Furnace Inside & Out

Get Important Furnace Knowledge Courtesy of Meyer’s

If you have a furnace or heating system in the Griffith, Gary, Hammond, Valparaiso, Lowell, and Porter County areas, you may not fully understand the mechanisms of how it works. The HVAC professionals at Meyer’s can help you maintain your heating system with a little help from this handy guide.

System Types

The first step in understanding your furnace is knowing what kind of system you own.

The most common furnaces and heaters in the Griffith area include:

• Split systems include a furnace, with a condensing unit and a coil that sit on top of your furnace or can be placed outside. This is a good option if you have a basement, attic, or another area in your house that’s the right size to fit a furnace and air conditioning system. If your home doesn’t have sufficient room for this, you may want to consider a packaged unit.
• Packaged units include a heating and cooling component all in one unit and are ideal for people who have a smaller home or business to heat and therefore less space to place separate climate control units.
• Heat pumps are a small type of packaged unit which includes a reversing valve on the coolant, meaning that you’ll be able to displace hot air or cold air between the inside and the outside as needed. Heat pumps rely on the temperature of the air outside so they are optimal for milder climates.

Fuel Sources

Your fuel source will depend on the type of furnace model you choose, as well as other circumstances. Gas furnaces are highly efficient and the most economical choice in areas where the temperature can be below freezing. Oil or propane furnaces require more storage room and aren’t as efficient to operate. However, if you don’t have gas lines that pipe into your building, oil or propane may be your best alternative. Electric furnaces are also an alternative to natural gas, but they are far more expensive to operate. An electric heat pump is a more economical solution, using less electricity for a milder heating and cooling solution.

Pilot Lights

Older furnace models have a pilot light that you would have to heat before you can begin to use the furnace in the fall or winter. Modern furnaces do not need to have their pilot light lit at all times, but they do have a pilot light which is lit by an electronic ignition when you turn the furnace on.

Other types of ignition for your furnace include:

• Hot surface ignition – This ignition uses a heat conductor like silicon carbide to light up burners when it meets gas.
• Direct spark ignition – This ignition uses a spark plug to create a spark that lights up the gas or oil burners.

Know Your Furnace with Meyer’s Today

We are your furnace experts in Griffith, Gary, Hammond, and the surrounding areas. Our company has been working on all heating system makes and models since 1951. If you need more information about the ins and outs of your furnace, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are also standing by should you need maintenance, inspection, repair, or anything else.

Contact (219) 240-0610 to get started!