Forced air gas furnaces heat the majority of American single-family homes. Their efficiencies vary, but some new furnaces are among the most efficient heating systems available.
Forced air gas heaters draw cool air from the home and supply warm filtered air to each room. Most forced-air systems have both a supply and return register serving every room. However, many forced-air systems have only one or two return registers.
Problems can occur when interior doors are shut. Supply registers will pressurize some rooms, while areas equipped with return registers are depressurized. This pressure imbalance increases the likelihood of air leakage and heat loss throughout the building shell. Transfer grilles, jump ducts, or door undercuts may be used to mitigate these problems, especially when a central return is used.
Many forced-air duct systems also have significant air leaks. Duct leakage allows substantial heat loss in cases where ducts are located in unconditioned crawl spaces, attics, or attached garages.
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