Need help with your AC system? Call the JC Mechanical experts at 720-372-0944 to schedule AC service that you can rely on today!
If you’re like most homeowners in Denver, you have both a heating and cooling system in your house. Many people use a furnace to keep their homes warm during Colorado’s brutal winters and an air conditioner to keep cool when the summer months arrive. If this is the case for you, you might be wondering, “Does the furnace control the AC?”
Your furnace and air conditioning system work together to keep your home cool as the seasons change, but it’s important to remember that they’re still two independent systems. As the go-to furnace installation company in Denver, JC Mechanical knows everything there is to know about AC and furnace systems. Below, we answer your questions about how they work together to give your home year-round indoor comfort.
How Your Furnace Works
It’s obvious that your furnace works to keep your home warm, but how does it do this?
Basically, your furnace keeps your home warm by heating up the indoor air and circulating it throughout your house via the ductwork. During the winter, this helps make sure that everyone in the home remains warm and cozy, even if the Colorado snow starts falling.
How Your AC Unit Works
Your air conditioner works like your furnace but delivers cool air instead of warm. So, for example, it cools the air down inside your home, then disperses it throughout the house by using the ductwork. So when the summer arrives, you and your family can keep cool, regardless of how hot it is outside.
The Working Relationship Between Air Conditioners and Furnaces
As a Colorado resident, you know that the temperature changes a lot throughout the year. It can also change in the blink of an eye, being brutally chilly in the morning and sunny and warm by the afternoon. So how does your HVAC system keep up with the ever-changing weather and temperature fluctuations?
Keep in mind that HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Your furnace and air conditioner are both parts of your home’s HVAC system, working together to deliver cool or warm air, depending on what you have your thermostat set to.
When the weather outside is warm, and you want to cool your home down, your AC system kicks on and uses the duct system to distribute cool air throughout your home. Meanwhile, when winter arrives, and you want to heat up your home, the furnace turns on and uses the same ductwork to disperse heated air throughout your home.
Although your heating and cooling systems are two individual units, they work together to control your home’s indoor temperatures. As such, if one malfunctions, it could create issues for the other. For instance:
- Damaged ductwork leads to air leaks, which makes both your air conditioner and furnace less efficient.
- A broken furnace fan means the cool air produced by your air conditioner can’t circulate throughout your house.
- A faulty thermostat makes it difficult for your furnace and air conditioner to control your home’s indoor temperatures because of incorrect temperature readings.
- Unprofessional installations for either the air conditioner or furnace can make both units significantly less efficient and effective.
Does One System Need the Other to Work?
Does the furnace control the AC? No.
Can the furnace work without your air conditioner? Yes!
Although the two systems work together and use the same ductwork to adjust your home’s indoor temperatures, they are two individual units that work independently of each other. So your furnace does not control your AC unit, and vice versa.
Think of it like this: your air conditioner and furnace are like two shops that share a street. They sit side by side and use the same road to make their deliveries, but they’re still two independent shops that do their own thing.
But unlike two shops, your furnace and air conditioner shouldn’t be running at the same time. If both your systems are on, it can spell a lot of trouble for your household. When this happens, call an HVAC professional as soon as possible.
Can You Use Other Systems to Heat and Cool Your Home?
As a homeowner, you have a lot of different options available to you regarding heating and cooling systems. So you don’t necessarily have to have a furnace and an air conditioner.
A popular alternative that provides both heating and cooling is a heat pump. Heat pumps are incredibly energy-efficient systems that provide both warm and cool air, so you can enjoy year-round indoor comfort from a single unit.
Many people prefer heat pumps because they can reduce your energy consumption by up to 50% when you compare them to traditional furnaces. This means you can enjoy a more efficient system and lower monthly utility bills.
Contact Your Local Furnace and AC Professionals When You Need Reliable HVAC Help
Whether you have a heat pump, furnace, air conditioner, or some other type of HVAC system, it’s crucial to have a team to call when you need HVAC help. Fortunately, JC Mechanical is just a phone call away.
We know that air conditioners and furnaces are complex systems with lots of mechanical and electrical components. That’s why our technicians go through extensive training and use the industry’s best equipment to provide reliable HVAC services that resolve even the most complex problems. We also believe in providing stellar customer service because we see don’t see you as just another customer; you’re a fellow Denver neighbor.
Hopefully, now you know the answer to the question, “Does the furnace control the AC?” If you have more questions about your HVAC setup or have a problem that needs fixing, you know who to call.
JC Mechanical proudly provides cooling and heating maintenance, repair, and installation services. So call us today at 720-372-0944 to schedule a service in Denver and keep your HVAC system working efficiently year-round!
Author Bio:
Jimmie Ciccone
Owner of JC Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning. A small family-owned company with over 30 years of experience dedicated to providing the best service possible to our customers. They guarantee 100% customer satisfaction, and if you aren’t satisfied, then you don’t pay them a dime.