What Is the Process of Installing a Central Heating System?

Winter nights in Houston can get downright chilly. Central heating systems are an excellent option for keeping a home warm when the outside temperatures drop. Instead of installing a heating system in each room, ductwork carries the conditioned air throughout the house. Installing a central heating system is a tough job. Here is what you can expect if you install a central heating system.

The Main Components of a Central Heating System

A central heating system is comprised of several components that work together to heat your home. You will have a better understanding of the work that goes into the installation process if you better understand the components of the system.

The fuel type will vary from system to system. The fuel is what your system uses to generate heat to warm your home. Common fuel sources include oil, propane, electric, and natural gas.

The thermostat sits separate from the furnace and the ductwork. The thermostat is the brain that controls the heating cycle. It monitors the temperature in your home. It activates the furnace to heat the house when it gets below a specific setting. Once the preselected temperature is reached, the thermostat will send a message to deactivate the furnace.

The furnace burner is where heat is generated. A natural gas furnace ignites the gas to produce heat in a sealed chamber. Outside air is introduced into the combustion chamber via a system of vents. Heat is produced in a sealed chamber to prevent toxic exhaust fumes from the burnt fuel from entering your home.

The burner is sealed, so a heat exchanger is needed to contract the heat created by the burner through the combustion chamber.

A blower takes the hot air that has been created and moves the heated air through the ductwork in the vents in your home. The warm air will continue to flow until the thermostat signals to the furnace that the desired temperature has been reached.

The filter sits in the HVAC system filter rack. Its job is to ensure cleanliness and proper system airflow in your home.

There are more elements of a heating system. Those mentioned above are just some of the critical components. All these parts must work harmoniously for your system to heat your home effectively. If there is an issue with any of these components in your system, our technicians at The Lee Thompson Co. will be happy to come and evaluate your system to keep it working at maximum efficiency.

Choose Your Central Heating System

The first step in installing a central heating system is choosing the right system for your home. Gas furnaces are the most popular option in North America. However, heat pumps, boilers, or electric heating systems are used in some parts of Houston. Boilers seem to be a better option for homes in colder climates or for homes requiring zone heating. Electric furnaces are more expensive to install, but they could be a good option in homes that do not have a natural gas line already installed.

At The Lee Thompson Co., we have years of experience installing central heating systems in Houston. We are familiar with the local climate, understand the design of local homes, and can confidently make recommendations to help you pick the right central heating system for your home. When you schedule an appointment with us, we will go to your home and assess the space that needs to be heated. This will allow us to determine your home’s optimal furnace option.

If you install a unit that is too large or too small, you will have high heating bills and poor heating if your home does not already have a duct system installed. During our initial visit, we can determine if and how ducts can be installed. These ducts can also funnel conditioned air into your home during the summer.

Ductwork Installation

After the system has been selected, the technicians will install the ducts. These are round pipes connected and installed as a network inside your walls. They are taped together and supported while connected to the wall vents. Your furnace forces heat into these ducts, and air will flow through the ducts and out of the vents into your home.

Installing ductwork during new construction is relatively straightforward. However, installing ductwork for existing construction can be labor-intensive. Installing ductwork takes between two or three days. Once the ductwork is complete, a new wall is installed over them. At The Lee Thompson Co., we only use durable duct material. We understand that any leaks in the ductwork can produce poor heating and lead to high HVAC bills.

Connecting Your Furnace

Your furnace is typically installed in your home’s basement or a storage closet. It will need to be placed in a location with gas and electrical wiring access. If your home is not equipped with a gas connection for the furnace, one will need to be installed.

During the installation of a gas furnace, the gas is shut off, and a link to the furnace is made. Once the connection process is complete, the gas is turned on, allowing the home to be heated.

With an electrical furnace, you will need to have low line voltage connections available for it to run smoothly. The installation crew understands the ins and outs of your furnace and knows what connections are needed for it to hook up properly.

Your furnace should come equipped with a condensate drain. This will funnel any condensation created by your furnace away from your home. Installing the condensate may require the technician to drill into the basement floor to connect to an existing drain.

Final Connections and Turning on the Unit

Once the ductwork, gas lines, and the furnace have been connected, our technicians will double-check every aspect of their work to ensure that no mistakes were made and nothing is damaged. After thoroughly reviewing the work, the new furnace will be turned on. From that point, you will enjoy central heating throughout the winter for years to come.

Going through the process of installing central heating makes it much easier to install central air conditioning if you want to go that route. Your central air conditioning will use the same ductwork and many of the same filters as your heating system.

Enjoy Trustworthy Commercial and Residential HVAC Services in Houston

At The Lee Thompson Co., we are proud to be a reliable heating and cooling team in Houston, Texas. We have been supplying HVAC assistance to homeowners and businesses in our area for decades. You can always expect us to go the extra mile to exceed your expectations. We take pride in our work, and we are happy to take the time to ensure that our customers are delighted with what we do before we leave. This is why we can confidently offer a satisfaction and performance guarantee for our HVAC services in Houston.

We proudly offer commercial HVAC maintenance installation and repair, including ductless systems, indoor air quality services, HVAC zoning, and dehumidifiers. Contact The Lee Thompson Co. today, and see why we are one of the most trusted names in all things HVAC!