Those of us who live in warmer climates tend to take our home heating systems for granted. The system is not used for much of the year, so we give it little thought. But when the weather gets cool and we want to warm the house, we expect the heat to flow on demand. And most of the time that is what we get. But in case of heating system failure, or if you are planning a new system in a new home, it is good to know something about the basics of home furnaces.
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In more severe climates, and in older homes, you often find oil-fired furnaces. These burn heating oil. They will have a blower system to move the air past a heat exchange unit, then circulate the warmed air throughout the house. These systems do warm the house well, but should be maintained by a professional, as cleaning and adjustments are critical to safe usage. Call your local heating contractor for maintenance or advice on a new heating system.