Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to run properly.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it hard for our specialists to complete furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is important to keep your equipment running smoothly. A routinely serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could lower your utility bills.
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 lessen future repair bills and likely lengthen the life of your unit.
So how much clearance should your furnace really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer instructions and Paxinos laws for clearance guidelines.
As a general suggestion, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service experts to easily 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 kind of furnace pulls combustion air from the adjacent area. If there’s not enough air, unsafe gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could leak into your home.
If your furnace is placed in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to install more openings. This could consist of 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 modern, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to add 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 deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the smelly odors all over your home.
You should also frequently sweep near 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 regular maintenance in Paxinos, LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any heating equipment model or brand.
Call us at 570-648-0748 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment now.