Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run right.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it hard for our specialists to complete furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is important to keep your system working well. A regularly serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could reduce your heating expenses.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us spot troubles before they start. This could help lessen future repair expenses and potentially extend the life of your furnace.
So how much room should your system really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re remodeling your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should consult manufacturer instructions and Alliance ordinances for clearance rules.
As a general recommendation, your furnace should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This lets our service professionals to comfortably repair it.
You also need to ensure the room has ample airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an aging furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This model of furnace needs combustion air from the nearby location. If there’s inadequate air, unsafe gas fumes and poisonous carbon monoxide could back draft into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a tiny room with a gas water heater, you may need to add supplemental openings. This could involve a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Uncertain if your furnace or water heater has enough ventilation? We can assist you!
Contact us
You don’t need to consider airflow and ventilation as much if you have a up-to-date, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to draw in air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms function as laundry and storage space, you should keep yours free of clutter that could be fire hazards.
This includes:
- Clotheslines
- Cleaning or laundry products
- Gasoline, paint or paint thinner
- Rags and papers
- Wood scraps and sawdust
- Used filters
If you have a cat, situate your litter box elsewhere. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could corrode your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the stinky odors around your home.
You should also routinely vacuum by your furnace to stop dust from accumulating.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you need furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Alliance, Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 308-321-4703 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment now.