Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to run right.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough room. It also makes it difficult for our specialists to perform furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your unit working smoothly. A regularly serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could reduce your heating expenses.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice troubles before they begin. This could help lower future repair expenses and possibly lengthen the life of your unit.
So how much area should your equipment really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re updating your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should take a look at manufacturer specifications and Norton laws for clearance rules.
As a general suggestion, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service technicians to easily repair it.
You also need to make sure the space has ample airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This model of furnace pulls combustion air from the surrounding location. If there’s not enough air, unsafe gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is located in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to put in supplemental openings. This could include a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
You don’t need to think about 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 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, place your litter box somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the smelly odors throughout your home.
You should also frequently clean near your furnace to stop dust from accumulating.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or routine maintenance in Norton, HCE Systems can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 276-302-0076 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment right away.