Furnaces for diy-central-heatingThe next form of diy-central-heating that we will look at is a furnace type with duct work. This is usually a furnace that can be gas, electric, or oil.
It has heat ducts going to each room in the house and usually has an air exchange system to bring air back to the furnace.
Metal ductwork was pretty much the main type of venting material used for a long time, but now it’s quite common to see flexible ducts. Flex ducts are much less expensive than metal and a lot easier and faster to install. They can be installed right into the floor joists, rafters, and crawlspaces. The trick is to get a good tight fit so that air doesn’t escape. It's really important that the flexible heating and cooling ducts don't get twisted or pinched. Most types are quite strong, but bending does happen.
The air-conditioning system can be included in the heating ductwork. It is usually run this way to save materials. The picture shows some examples of air conditioners. Air conditioners can be central or local. A big AC system using air ducts would be a central system. Smaller units in each room would be local air-conditioners. The decision of which to use depends on the local climate.
Furnaces can be a complicated aspect of the heating system. Some do it your selfers get overwhelmed and need to call heating repair contractors. There's no shame in that. But if you decide to brave the project on your own just remember that most heating systems use 240-volt circuits. Be sure to disconnect the power before doing any work on heating and AC systems. It's not enough to shut the breaker off. You should put a piece of duct tape over the breaker and communicate to all family members what you are doing. If you're removing an old system, remember that the old wiring might need to be upgraded to supply the demands of a new appliance.
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