Are My Furnace & AC Connected?

How Does My AC Unit Work with My Furnace?
Understanding that your AC and furnace work both separately & together can be slightly confusing. Simply put, the air conditioning part of your heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system chills refrigerant (with an outside unit) while the furnace works inside with fans and coils. The HVAC system’s ductwork transports air throughout the home, heating or cooling your home as needed.

Forced Air vs. Central Air

Understanding the difference between a forced air system and a central air system can help you differentiate the roles of each in your HVAC system. Essentially, a forced air system encompasses the entirety of HVAC systems that move temperature-controlled air into your home with ducts and vents. Examples of forced air systems are your furnace or your heat pump (if you have one).

Central air conditioning employs a closed-loop of refrigerated/cycled air to deliver cool air when needed to combat the North Carolina summer heat. Both your forced air (furnace) and central air (AC) systems use the same parts to cool and heat your home. The outdoor condenser and compressor, indoor fans, and evaporator coils cycle refrigerant and draw hot home air inside while releasing heat, then draw cooled air back through your vents.

In other words, your central air conditioning system is independent of your furnace. The outdoor unit isn’t connected to the furnace at all—but they both utilize the same distribution system (vents, plenums, and ducts) to cycle cool air into your home.

Other AC Systems

While the distribution system of a furnace is generally the same, your air conditioning system can be a standard, split, or a packaged system.

A split AC has both an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit houses the compressor and the condenser coil. The indoor unit regulates the airflow, distributing warm air from the furnace.

A packaged air conditioning system doesn’t employ an outdoor unit. All components are in the same place.

Will a Furnaces Work Without an AC & Vice Versa?

Not all homes will have HVAC systems that operate the same way. Depending on the climate where you live, your home may have an AC but no furnace or vice versa.

Weather in the Triangle region can be hot, humid, chilly, and damp, depending on the season. Raleigh and Durham homeowners employ a variety of HVAC system options to keep their homes comfortable and healthy.

Some homeowners decide to install room air conditioners, where the ACs are housed in a window or wall opening. This is often because warmer climates don’t need a furnace to keep them warm, so an affordable alternative is a room air conditioner or a ductless mini-split AC.

Some homes rely on a heat-only system that functions independently of an air conditioning system. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of both can help you determine what is most efficient for your home and situation.

Furnaces & Air conditioning