Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to work correctly.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it hard for our technicians to accomplish furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your unit working well. An annually serviced furnace may work more efficiently, which could lower your heating expenses.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us spot issues before they start. This could help lower future repair expenses and possibly lengthen the life of your furnace.
So how much room should your equipment really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re remodeling your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should research manufacturer directions and Athol laws for clearance requirements.
As a general rule of thumb, your furnace should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service technicians to comfortably replace it.
You also need to ensure the space has plentiful airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an older furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This type of furnace needs combustion air from the surrounding area. If there’s inadequate air, dangerous gas fumes and toxic 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 extra openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a up-to-date, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your unit 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, place your litter box in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could corrode your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the unpleasant odors all over your home.
You should also regularly vacuum around your furnace to prevent dust from accumulating.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you have to have furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Athol, Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 208-561-1226 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment now.
