How to Install Furnace
Furnace installation is a big job and you need to ensure that everything goes right before and after the furnace is installed. This includes ensuring that the space is clear of obstructions for proper airflow.
It also includes checking electrical connections, gas connections and the condensate drain. It is important to do these steps to avoid problems such as clogged drain lines and water damage.
1. Identifying the Problem
Furnaces are complicated pieces of equipment that run on electricity, gas or propane. They have thermostats, air ducts and pilot lights, as well as flame sensors. When they work properly, they keep your house warm and comfortable. But when something goes wrong, they can create some real problems.
One of the first things that can go wrong with a furnace is a lack of power. It can also be that it is the wrong size for your home. If the system is too small, it will short cycle constantly, which will cause it to wear out faster and use up a lot of energy.
To determine the right size furnace for your house, you need to know its square footage. This can be found on closing, leasing or listing documents, blueprints or an appraisal. You should also take into account the number of people living in the house and any other heating or cooling requirements. Then you need to figure out what climate zone you live in. This will help narrow down the options for your new furnace.
2. Identifying the Furnace
Choosing the right furnace size and power is crucial, and should be done before an installation team ever steps foot in your home. An improperly sized furnace will cause your system to short cycle, which results in excessive wear and tear and higher energy bills.
Furnace installation sandy can perform a load calculation on your home, taking into account square footage, number of occupants, insulation levels, ceiling heights, windows, and appliances to determine the correct unit size for your house. They should also check to ensure existing ductwork is large enough to facilitate the air flow required by the new furnace.
To identify your furnace, look for a gas line running into the interior of the furnace and a glass port to view your burners. You may also see a heat exchanger, which looks like a metal snake that extends upwards from the burner. It transfers the heat from the combustion chamber to the duct and ventilation system. A broken or damaged heat exchanger can lead to carbon monoxide leaks. It can also cause your furnace to run less efficiently and burn more fuel.
3. Identifying the Ductwork
Often, a new furnace will require some or all of the existing ductwork to be replaced. A professional should always examine the ductwork prior to starting a furnace replacement job. This will help them determine the best size of furnace for a home. The correct sized furnace will ensure that the warmed air is delivered evenly throughout the house.
During a duct inspection, the technician should check the ducts for leaks and other issues that could affect a home’s energy efficiency. Leaky ducts account for a significant portion of a home’s heat loss. The ducts should also be checked for obstructions that can inhibit airflow. These obstructions include dirt, dust and other debris that accumulate in the ducts over time.
During the inspection, the technician should also identify any points of connection between the new and existing ductwork. This is usually done by using a marker to indicate where the new ductwork connects to the existing ductwork. This allows the technician to easily distinguish between new and old ductwork. Typically, the new ductwork is marked with a dark line, while the existing ductwork is drawn lightly.
4. Identifying the Electrical Connections
Furnace installation can be a complex task and it’s recommended that you hire a professional to do this work to ensure that all safety rules and local codes are followed. Furnaces have a lot of electrical cords and connections that must be properly attached to make the furnace function. An incorrectly attached wiring system can cause damage to the furnace or even your home.
During the initial visit, a trained technician will calculate the size of your house in order to determine what size of furnace you need. This process is important because a furnace that's too small will overwork itself, leading to premature wear and tear. A furnace that's too large will not evenly heat your home.
After determining the correct size, the technician will then inspect the ductwork and the gas line to ensure they are set up for the new furnace. The technician will also test the electrical wiring to ensure that it's safe to operate a new furnace. Before starting any work, the technician will shut off the breaker for the furnace so that it doesn't accidentally short circuit.
5. Identifying the Vents
The furnace needs a way to circulate air and bring in new air to burn. It gets this from the vents, which are either metal hoods or plastic pipes that extend out the side of your house. It’s important that the installer not only locates these, but also identifies them as being for intake versus exhaust. The intake vents may have screens, while the exhaust vents should be open.
During the winter months, furnaces can be shut off completely if their vents are blocked by snow or ice. This is a safety mechanism designed to keep carbon monoxide from building up in the home, which can be dangerous and even fatal.
Furnace manufacturers have their own guidelines for terminating the vents, but all of them are similar in that the combustion pipe (that brings air into the furnace) should point down and the exhaust should snorkel up and out. Failure to follow these instructions can result in damage to the heat exchanger and other furnace components.
6. Identifying the Gas Connections
Many furnace issues are caused by a lack of proper installation practices. This can result in problems that can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace. It can also cause your system to short cycle, which means it will turn on and off a lot, causing more wear and tear and less efficiency.
When installing a new furnace, it’s important to make sure the gas line is the right size. Different furnaces have different BTU capacities, so the gas line needs to be able to support it. It’s also important to use the proper fittings and connections, which are available in a variety of sizes and types.
This step also includes making sure the air ducts are properly sized to accommodate the new furnace. It’s also important to check the condensate drain, as a clogged one can lead to water damage. Your technician should also test and verify proper system airflow by using soapy water and a brush. If there are any leakages, they should be fixed as soon as possible.
7. Identifying the Condensate Drain
A high-efficiency furnace produces condensation that needs to be drained. This typically happens through a floor drain or a condensate line, which is usually located in a wall near the unit. This line carries the water away from the system to a condensate drain pan outside of your home or to a drainage pipe in your basement or garage. A clogged drain line is one of the most common maintenance problems for HVAC systems. This is due to a buildup of dirt and debris that can be carried from inside the air handler through the ductwork to the pan.
If you have a newer furnace, this may be an issue that needs to be fixed. To avoid this problem, the installer should perform a load calculation before installing your furnace. They will take into account the square footage of your home, insulation levels, number of windows and doors and more to determine the right size furnace for your home. This will help to prevent a system that is too small from overworking itself, leading to costly repairs over time.
8. Identifying the Furnace
Most homeowners have never seen the inside of their furnace, but it is a critical part of your home’s heating system. It is responsible for transferring heat from the combustion chamber to the air that is circulated through your house. If it isn’t functioning properly, it can lead to a host of problems, including carbon monoxide leaks and fires.
To operate, the furnace needs electricity. It uses one normal (15 amp) household circuit to run the control electronics, igniter, and blower. The circuit is wired with black wire being hot, white wire being neutral, and green/copper wire being ground. The furnace should also be connected to a backup power source (generator or large battery) to restore heating in the event of a power failure.
The gas valve requires 12V power to open, and it can be tested by connecting the positive and negative terminals of a battery to test if it’s opening. Your furnace also has a device called a thermocouple that monitors the pilot light to make sure it’s lit. If it’s not, the thermocouple will shut off the gas line to your furnace.
Furnace installation is a big job and you need to ensure that everything goes right before and after the furnace is installed. This includes ensuring that the space is clear of obstructions for proper airflow. It also includes checking electrical connections, gas connections and the condensate drain. It is important to do these steps to…