Interesting Facts About Furnaces

Here at Lamco Systems, we know how important it is to have a working heating system in your home during the colder months. We perform heating services for the residents of Merrimack Valley, and are happy to help keep our fellow residents comfortable in their homes. If you have a furnace in your home in Merrimack Valley that needs repair or maintenance, we are just a call away. In the meantime, here are some interesting facts about furnaces for you to enjoy.

Ubiquitous

Did you know that the furnace is the most common heating system used in the United States? That’s correct, no other heating system is as prevalent where we live. There are many different types of furnaces, some are heated with natural gas, some are heated with oil, and some are heated with electricity. Furnaces powered by natural gas are both the most common, and the most efficient, saving homeowners up to 30 percent on average on their energy bills.

History

Did you know that a furnace has been in use in some iteration since 1200 B.C., when the first known proto furnaces called “hypocausts” were invented by the Romans? These hypocausts functioned as central heating systems, but were also used for metallurgy. Smelting iron, making steel, melting metal, and reheating and treating metals were all done using furnaces.

Simplicity

While modern furnaces may have a seemingly endless amount of parts to connect with your home, in general a furnace is a simple device made of three parts. The burner (or heating element in an electric furnace) produces heat, the heat exchanger separates combustible gas and breathable air, and the blower sends that breathable air into the air ducts. With these three parts, a person can create a furnace. Although we don’t recommend it, as it probably won’t last long without the associated filters, fittings, ducts, etc.that keep a furnace working efficiently over time.

Long Lived

Many people don’t know that furnaces are actually very durable and long lived. It’s not that rare for a furnace to function well for 40 years. An average medium efficiency furnace will last typically 18 to 25 years, while I high efficiency furnace will last around 15 to 20 years. Regular maintenance ensures that furnaces last to the end of their projected lifespan.

We hope you found these facts about furnaces interesting. If you think your home could benefit from furnace or other heating services in Merrimack Valley and the surrounding areas, trust the professionals here at Lamco Systems. We have the industry knowledge and experience to get the job done right, on time, the first time. For more information about how our HVAC services can benefit you, please do not hesitate to give us a call at your earliest convenience. One of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.