Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run correctly.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough clearance. It also makes it challenging for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is important to keep your system operating well. A routinely serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could decrease your heating costs.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice problems before they become expensive. This could help lower future repair bills and possibly prolong the life of your unit.
So how much room should your equipment really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re updating your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should take a look at manufacturer directions and Auburn laws for clearance rules.
As a general recommendation, your furnace should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service technicians to conveniently repair it.
You also need to make sure the room has enough 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 draws combustion air from the nearby space. If there’s inadequate air, hazardous 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 put in supplemental openings. This could involve a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Not sure if your furnace or water heater has enough ventilation? We can help!
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You don’t need to consider airflow and ventilation as much if you have a newer, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your system uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to draw in air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms double as laundry and storage space, you should keep yours free of things 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 create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the unpleasant odors throughout your home.
You should also frequently clean around your furnace to prevent dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Auburn, Forster Heating can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 530-885-8081 or use our online scheduler to get an appointment right away.