Would You Know If Your Furnace Is Using Freon?

Using ductwork, your furnace warms and distributes the hot air throughout the house. But you might not comprehend how this method functions, just like many householders. You might ask if your furnace uses freon after learning about the EPA’s order to halt freon production.

Since appliances that use freon rely on refrigerants to transfer heat, your furnace does not require freon to heat your home. The furnace, on the other hand, heats air by burning fuel like natural gas or electricity, which the system then distributes to keep your house warm.

You can choose wisely how to maintain your HVAC system if you are aware of how it functions.

What Heating System Does Your Home Use?

A component of your home’s HVAC system is your furnace. This system is in charge of conditioning the air in your house, making it comfortable to live in all year long.

When it’s cold outside, you may use a furnace or boiler to warm the air inside. When it’s hot outside, as in the summer, you can switch to the air conditioner to bring the temperature down to a comfortable level.

Since a heat pump may be used to heat or cool your home in mild climes, some people use it to condition the air. People who live in places with severe winters frequently use a furnace or another more potent heating device to complement the heat pump’s heating capabilities.

A Furnace’s Operation

The thermostat on the furnace tells it to turn on when the temperature inside your house drops below a set threshold. The signal is received by a gas furnace, which opens the gas valves to let gas in. The fuel is subsequently ignited by the burner, starting the heating process.

The amount of fuel that flows into the heating chamber is controlled by the thermostat in conjunction with the gas valve. In this central area, a furnace is typically used to heat the air. The warm air is then distributed throughout your house by the system via ducting and vents.

While most furnaces heat air by burning fuels like propane, natural gas, or heating oil, some furnaces use electricity to accomplish the same task.

The furnace does not utilize freon because it heats air by burning fuel. A form of refrigerant used in air conditioners and heat pump systems to move heat from one location to another is called freon, commonly known as R-22 or HCFC-22.

Evaporator and condenser coils are a component of the closed loop that houses the refrigerant in appliances that require it to operate at their best. The furnace is made up of parts like a blower motor, burner, inducer motor, and heat exchanger in their place.

In order to allow an appliance to heat or cool your home, the refrigerant absorbs and releases heat at certain points throughout its cycle. In addition, when it moves through the closed loop, it switches between the states of liquid, gas, and liquid again.

The refrigerant’s direction can be changed via a reverse valve in heat pumps, which affects where heat is released. It brings the outdoor heat into during chilly weather. In a similar manner, when it’s hot outside, the refrigerant releases inside heat.

How To Pick The Right Furnace For Your Home

If you moved into a new house or have an outdated furnace, you may need to look for a new one. Furnaces typically survive between 15 and 30 years.

Additionally, the appliance loses effectiveness over time owing to normal wear and tear. Costs associated with heating rise when efficiency declines.

These advice can help you decide what factors to take into account when buying a new furnace for your house.

Source Of Fuel

As was already noted, a furnace can heat air using electricity or by burning fuels like propane, natural gas, or oil. It is preferable to select a new furnace that is compatible with the energy source of your existing furnace if you are replacing one.

However, if you plan to quickly transition to a more efficient energy source, you can purchase a furnace with a different fuel type. Before installing your new furnace, you can adapt your home’s system to make it suitable.

HVAC System In Use

Before investing in a new furnace, take into account the setup already present in your house. Do you have a central system that powers both your heating and cooling units? If so, you must purchase a heater that will cooperate with your AC.

Do you have a split system that controls the heating and cooling separately? This configuration gives you greater leeway to think about the heating and cooling appliances independently.

Also think about whether you want to keep the current heating and cooling system or modify it.

Even though merging the systems may allow for some additional room in the house, it is wise to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option before making a final choice.

Size

To maximize your investment, be sure your new furnace is sized properly. Take into account your living space’s square footage as well as the local weather when doing this. Because most size guidelines assume eight-foot ceilings, take into account the height of the ceiling as well.

BTUs are used to calculate the furnace’s size. Make sure the furnace you buy has just the right amount of BTUs. Your home won’t be able to be heated by the unit if it is too small.

On the other hand, if it is too huge, it will cycle more frequently, causing more wear and tear and inconsistent temperatures around the house.

Cost

When planning your budget for a new furnace, take into account the unit’s purchase price as well as other expenses like installation fees, the cost of buying any accessories required to get it up and running, and the cost of switching your fuel source, if necessary.

Additionally, provide an estimate of the potential operating expenses associated with running your furnace. You will need a monthly budget to determine how much you are likely to spend on heating your home, even though the initial fees are one-time.

Conclusion

Instead of using freon, which transfers heat, your furnace burns fuel to produce heat. We hope that by reading this essay, you have a better understanding of how your furnace operates and are better prepared to choose your heating options.

To ensure that your furnace runs at its best, it is also crucial to have a contractor maintain it once a year.