What is a Gravity Furnace?
Gravity furnaces are heating equipment that employ the use of gravity to conduct warm air to various parts of the structure. At one time, the gravity furnace was a common means of providing heat in homes and apartment buildings. While this type of furnace has been replaced in many case by devices such as the heat pump, there are still many homes that continue to make use of a gravity furnace. The function of a gravity furnace is relatively simple. Typically, the furnace proper is usually housed in the basement area of the home or building. Different types of heating fuels may be used, such as electricity, coal, oil or gas. When active, the gravity furnace distributes the produced heat into the upper levels of the dwelling by the means of ductwork that is ran throughout the walls and floors of the building. Vents that are strategically attached to the ductwork allow the hot air to escape into the rooms of the home. This design is sometimes referred to as an octopus furnace. It is the ba
