subject: Furnace Repair In Phoenix Special Heat & Furnace Repair Offers! [print this page] Furnace and Heating Systems Repair in Phoenix
Heating systems can vary enormously, but all work toward the same goal- ensuring comfort for your home.
Most homes today are heated by forced warm air or hot water. Steam heat, found in older in older homes, is rarely installed now. Electric heat and heat pumps are the choice in some situations.
Understanding Heating Systems
Steam, hot water, forced warm-air, and electric heating systems all function in the same basic way. Each system is equipped with a control, a heat producer,a heat exchanger, and a heat distributor.
The control, called a theromastat, signals a need for heat. The signal turns on the heat producer, usally an oil or gas burner or an electric heating element; the heat warms the transfer medium-air, water, or steam- in the heat exchanger: a furnace if it heats air, a boiler if it heats water or produces steam.
The transfer medium moves by gravity or is forced through ducts(warm air) or pipes(water or steam) to the heat distributors located in the living areas. These heat distributors are registers in a forced warm-air system and convectors or radiators in a hot water or steam system. In a hot water radiant heating system, the water moves through tubing concealed in the ceiling, walls, or floor.
Return ducts or pipes carry the medium back to the heat exchanger. When the temperature of the living area reaches the level set on the thermostat, the thermostat automatically shuts down the system.
Caring for your system
In general, heating systems operate reliably for years, providing they're carefully maintained. Most routine mainteneance, minor repairs, and simple adjustments are well within the capabilities of the home owner. But other repairs, either those too dangerous or too technical for the do-it-yourselfer, require professional help.
Whether you're performing routine maintenance or trying to solve a problem, you'll find much valuable information, as well as a description of the different heating systems and their major componets, burners and thermostats, in our following articles and at our website.
