Although most people spend every day in a house with central heating, many do not understand how it works. But although there are several components, the underlying concept is simple. By grasping the following fundamentals, homeowners can notice signs of something amiss and call for repairs before there is a breakdown.

How Does Your Central Heating & Air Conditioner System Alter the Temperature?

Forced Air Systems

Fuel—typically propane, natural gas, or heating oil—combusts in a "combustion chamber" via a pilot light or igniter. A fan forces air through a "heat exchanger," which warms the air and prepares it for circulation. The fan—or blower—then transmits the warm air through a system of ducts that lead through your house to vents in each room. When warm air reaches the centrally-located thermostat, the device reads the ambient temperature and, when it reaches the pre-set level, the thermostat shuts down the furnace until more warm air is needed.

Boiler Systems

Boiler systems use water instead of air as the heat delivery medium. Water is pumped through the heat exchanger where it collects the heat needed to warm your house. Hot water then travels through pipes to each room until it reaches a radiator, a device with a number of fins that allow heat to be released efficiently. Water cools as it moves through the radiator, and it then travels back to the boiler to be reheated.

Central Air Conditioning

Central air systems use a "refrigerant," or a fluid with a low boiling point, to collect heat and move it outdoors. Collecting indoor heat causes the refrigerant to evaporate—transforming from a liquid to gaseous state. The refrigerant then flows outdoors to a condenser unit where it returns—condenses—to a liquid state and releases the heat energy it had collected. The hot air is then expelled outside.

For reliable AC and furnace repair, contact County Line Heating & Air Conditioning, an experienced HVAC contractor in Broken Arrow, OK. They've been serving Tulsa and Wagoner counties for more than 35 years and are fully certified and insured. To view a list of their services, visit them online. To schedule a central heating inspection or maintenance, call (918) 455-3463 today.