Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to heat correctly.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough clearance. It also makes it difficult for our technicians to accomplish furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is essential to keep your equipment operating smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could decrease your heating bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice issues before they start. This could help lessen future repair costs and likely prolong 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 research manufacturer directions and Newton laws for clearance guidelines.
As a general suggestion, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service professionals to conveniently repair it.
You also need to make sure the room 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 kind of furnace needs combustion air from the nearby location. If there’s inadequate air, unsafe gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is placed in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to install extra openings. This could include a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Uncertain if your furnace or water heater has enough ventilation? We can assist you!
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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 furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to pull 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 routinely clean near your furnace to prevent dust from accumulating.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you need furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Newton, Brookwood Inc can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 641-316-9803 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment now.