Heating technology is constantly evolving but staying on top of furnace parts and equipment news and trends is easy. Information on furnace equipment is typically with other heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, info. When searching for furnace news, you'll likely have to browse through articles not necessarily related to heating.

Keeping yourself aware of new products and technology is as simple as subscribing to newsletters and blogs. If you have a favorite manufacturer, you can request news releases be directly e-mailed to you. It's also important to frequently interact with other professionals within the industry, whether in person or online. When searching for furnace parts and equipment news and trends, consider the following:

1. Read heating industry news on HVAC websites.

2. Subscribe to blogs about furnace equipment.

3. Join an online forum dedicated to discussing furnace supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Visit websites that feature industry news on furnace equipment

Several HVAC and construction websites post articles and news releases relating to heating technology. Furnace parts and equipment manufacturers frequently send out news releases to announce new products. Bookmark these sites or subscribe to their RSS feeds to receive updates every time there is a new article.

I recommend: Read technical articles on furnace parts and equipment at HVAC Web Connection. For news on furnace part manufacturers updated daily, visit The HVAC Source. The website also features articles on the climate of the heating industry. Great Possibilities is a website that caters to the construction industry and archives articles on heating.

Read industry blogs about furnace supplies

Industry blogs are written by professionals who have an opinion to share. Keeping up to date with these blogs can be an excellent resource because you'll find honest reviews of products, industry gossip and tried-and-true tactics for running a business.

I recommend: The editors of The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration NEWS each post their own blog on the site. These blogs focus on topics such as improving the bottom line for your business, education and training within the industry and a humorous view of industry news. GlobalSpec offers an HVAC blog that includes information on furnace parts. The blog's colloquial writing is a fun read and easy to digest. GlobalSpec requires a subscription for full access.

Join a furnace parts online discussion forum

Joining an internet forum dedicated to the heating industry allows you to ask questions and give feedback about furnace equipment. Some forums limit membership to professionals working within the industry, others are for novices looking for tips on how to buy furnace repair parts and some feature an 'ask a technician' section. Furnace parts and equipment news often travels by word of mouth throughout these discussion forums.

I recommend: High Performance HVAC hosts a forum that contains sections for energy efficiency, gas furnace parts and oil furnace parts. To discuss furnace repair parts with thousands of HVAC professionals, join HVAC-Talk's discussion forums. HVAC Mechanic offers forums for both commercial and residential furnace applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be weary of websites that don't seem credible. Decide how trustworthy a website or blog is by carefully reading the company's 'about' page. If you're unsure of a site's credibility, seek a second opinion before you buy the suggested furnace parts.

Heating bills can be expensive. Old or faulty equipment can cost you hundreds of dollars during the cold months, so it's always a good idea to maintain your furnace and have all the necessary furnace parts handy to fix your machine. Whether you're looking for home or office furnace supplies, or the right furnace part to fix your industrial heating system, you can easily find a parts supplier online.

Many furnace part suppliers also offer furnace repair services. So if you'd rather not fix your own furnace, purchase services online instead of or in addition to the necessary furnace equipment. When buying furnace equipment or services online, here are some things to look for:

1. Warranties on parts or service.

2. An online catalog of furnace supply parts for easy browsing.

3. An online supplier who offers overnight shipping if you need furnace repair parts immediately and can't find them locally.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Browse online catalogs

If you want a comprehensive listing of furnace parts offered by manufacturers or sold by dealers, use a search tool that allows you to look at multiple companies and products at once. Find the parts and dealers that match your project specifications.

I recommend: Register for free with GlobalSpec.com to search for products and services in the furnace parts category you're looking for. If you know the exact part you need, use the part number search to quickly locate the electric, oil or gas furnace parts you require.

Find online dealers of industrial furnace parts

There are a number of companies servicing various industrial furnace needs with websites detailing their products.

I recommend: See the C.I. Hayes product website for a variety of heat-treating furnaces. If you need nitriding furnaces or parts, check out Nitrex.com. HI T.E.Q. sells a variety of furnaces and furnace supplies, with a focus on aluminum processing applications.

Contact a furnace parts supplier in your area

If you're looking for local service so you can meet and talk to a furnace parts supplier in person rather than over the phone or by email, search for a dealer in your particular area who offers the parts and services you need.

I recommend: Submit a query on your particular project to ServiceMagic.com and receive information on furnace parts dealers in your area. If you're looking for specific repair work, specify whether you need oil or gas furnace parts, your timeline for completion, and any other pertinent information. Get matched with local dealers who fit your needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always ask for an estimate on parts and labor, and try multiple companies before making a purchase so you can find the best deal possible on furnace parts, and have the power to bargain for a better price.

In order to decide what type of furnace best meets your business' needs and to keep maintenance costs low, learn common furnace parts and equipment key terms. All furnaces are similar in that they produce heat, but they use different equipment and parts to accomplish their goal.

When searching for a furnace part, you must first know what kind of furnace for which you are shopping and the exact name of the part. Even if you choose to hire a service company to maintain your furnace, having a working knowledge of key terms will ensure you're not paying for unnecessary repairs. When learning furnace parts and equipment key terms, know the following:

1. Learn how a gas furnace functions and about its components.

2. Familiarize yourself with oil furnace parts.

3. Review how electric furnace parts work.

4. Know the differences and similarities among industrial, commercial and home furnaces.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become familiar with gas furnace parts

A gas furnace heats cold air with a gas burner and uses a motor to distribute the air throughout a building using a system of ductwork and vents. Components of a gas furnace include the heat exchanger, the induced-draft motor, the blower motor, a spark ignition system and filters. When you can accurately diagnose a gas furnace, you save your company repair costs and downtime.

I recommend: See a photograph of a gas furnace at Ingram Water and Air Equipment. Click on the photograph to see a larger view. Review the diagram of a gas furnace at A-Z Comfort Air. Clearly labeled are the furnace's parts with brief descriptions of how they function.

Review examples of oil furnace equipment

Forced air oil furnaces work similarly to gas furnaces. This type of furnace burns stored oil to produce heat and uses a blower motor to distribute the warmed air. This type of furnace is ideal for industrial applications where you must discard the oil. Oil furnace parts include an oil pump, transformer, blower motor, ignition control and filter.

I recommend: Visit Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems to see examples of oil furnaces. Click on the photographs of the individual models to see larger photos and read product specifications. To see clearly labeled parts inside an oil furnace, visit High Performance HVAC. Find photographs of individual oil furnace supplies, including valves and gaskets, at Aubuchon Hardware.

Learn the functions of electric furnace parts

Electric furnaces use tubular heating rods to directly heat an air stream. Like other furnaces, electric furnaces use a motor, fans and filters. A circuit breaker controls this type of furnace, which can be either inside or outside the furnaces cabinet depending on the model. Other electric furnace parts include hot surface igniters and flame sensors.

I recommend: To see an example of an electric furnace, visit The Unico System. Find illustrations of electric furnace repair parts at Expert Appliance. To see how individual components function within an electric furnace, visit Warmair.com.

Know the difference between industrial, commercial and home furnace equipment

When purchasing furnace parts and equipment, you need to specify if the supplies are for an industrial, commercial or home furnace. Home and commercial furnaces supply heat for the purpose of comfort. Industrial furnaces typically heat a material, such as metal.

I recommend: To see examples of industrial furnaces, visit Johnson Gas. Notice the furnaces resemble heavy machinery rather than an appliance. To see examples of home furnaces, visit Lennox. Click on the individual links to see photographs. Find a photo of a commercial furnace at Boyertown Furnace.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Home furnaces can often be for use in commercial applications, depending on the size of the building. Home furnace equipment is typically adequate for salons, restaurants, small shops, doctor's offices and similar businesses.

Furnace equipment can be costly but is a piece of equipment you can't do without. Whether you run a business that requires heating in a cold climate or a hotel that has furnace units, it's always in your best interest to save money. Furnace supplies and furnace parts can save you money by repairing your existing furnace instead of purchasing a new one. Whether it's gas furnace parts or a furnace part to an electric furnace that you need, there are a few ways to save on costs and have your budget work more economically.

There are a few helpful ways to save on furnace repair parts. By purchasing from a furnace parts supplier that offers generic parts to finding replacement parts in bulk and receiving free shipping, more of your budget can be designated to other expenses that can help you have more money left over. Here are a few elements that may help you in lowering your costs when you buy furnace equipment.

1. Buy furnace equipment from vendors who offer free shipping.

2. Get furnace equipment in bulk quantities.

3. Take advantage of low cost generic furnace parts and equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy furnace parts from sellers that have free shipping

Shipping costs can range from $20 to $50 depending on what parts you are having shipped and more on bulk orders. Utilizing a vendor that offers free shipping can allow you to stretch your budget and use the extra funds for more parts or another needed service.

I recommend: Expert Appliances offers free shipping for orders over $150 and Grainger has free shipping for orders over $50.

Get your furnace supplies in bulk quantities

Furnace supplies in bulk quantities can save money on various price points. Most vendors will require that you call for a quote first but will give a price break on multiple units sold. With a 15 piece requirement for a bulk order, and savings of $2 per unit, if you purchase 200 parts you will save at least $400.

I recommend: Alliance Parts offers bulk pricing or at the commitment level, whichever is the lowest price. Loyal Heating and Air Conditioning also offers bulk purchase ability.

Buy furnace equipment that is generic

In order to save on parts and equipment for furnaces, buy furnace equipment that is generic. A name brand gas motor blower can cost hundreds of dollars whereas a generic gas motor blower is as low as $99 when you purchase a generic brand. Generic brands are the same as non-generic parts but do not include the name brand on the part.

I recommend: Both Total Vac and Mobile Home Repair offer generic parts to save you money on furnace parts pricing and costs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always find out the warranty information and return policy on any furnace part you purchase.