There are a lot of people who don’t know anything about the main components of their central heating units, and that’s okay! That’s why we’re here: to take care of your furnace and A/C unit for you.

However, it’s still always a good idea to at least be a little familiar with the main components of your heating system. When you know what they are, it can make it easier for you to know when something has gone wrong with them and ultimately, when to call A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. for HVAC service in the Bay Area.

Getting to Know the Parts of Your Furnace

Following are some of the major parts of your furnace and the functions that each one is responsible for providing so that you can enjoy a warm, comfortable home on those cool California nights:

Blower Motor

This is the component of the furnace that has the job of forcing the heated air into the air ducts in your home, delivering it to all of the areas of your building. This is a critical component that is designed to function for many years.

Heat Exchanger

After gas combustion takes place in the furnace, the byproducts of those reactions that linger are toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide. A heat exchanger is a vital component that separates the toxic gases from the air that will enter your house. The heat exchanger has long tubes that are S-shaped that vent out these toxic gasses through the roof.

Flue Pipe

This pipe helps your furnace transport those toxic gases to the outside of your home or building.

Thermocouple

The thermocouple is a component of your furnace that is situated next to the pilot light. It has the primary function of making sure that the pilot light remains lit. It acts as a sensor and will shut the furnace off if it cannot detect that the pilot light is on. As you can imagine, this is a critical safety feature.

An important note about thermocouples: they tend to become dirty as they age, and if they get too dirty, they can lose the ability to sense that pilot light. When this happens, it will tend to keep shutting the furnace off, mistakenly “sensing” that there is no pilot on. So, if your thermocouple isn’t regularly cleaned, it will eventually need to be replaced. It’s just one reason to call on A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. for services like routine HVAC maintenance!

Pilot Light

In order to start a flame and get your furnace running, it must have a mechanism that will light the gas. In times gone by, furnaces used a pilot that burned continuously and when the furnace came on, the gas would be lit. Today, however, furnaces use a hot surface igniter (HSI). This component glows red hot to ignite the gas when it’s needed.

Burner

The burner is the part of the furnace at which the gas is ignited with a spark. This is a crucial component because it is what enables the furnace to create heated air.

Flame Sensor

This is the component that has replaced thermocouples in many new furnaces. Flame sensors shut off the furnace if no heat is detected. Just like thermocouples, they need to be kept clean.

Gas Valve

Set at different pressures, natural gas is supplied through pipes, and at the entry to your home, the gas valve steps the pressure down. This corrected pressure is then carried to the furnace. When the safety switch on a furnace fails, the gas valve is also responsible for shutting off the gas.

Looking for an HVAC Company in the Bay Area?

Count on A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. for all your HVAC needs. We’re the leading HVAC service company in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, and the entire Bay Area. Get a free quote and schedule your appointment today!