Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run right.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it challenging for our technicians to complete furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is essential to keep your equipment working smoothly. A routinely serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could lower your heating bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice troubles before they become expensive. This could help lower future repair costs and possibly prolong the life of your system.
So how much area 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 consult manufacturer instructions and Lawrence statutes for clearance guidelines.
As a general recommendation, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service technicians to comfortably repair it.
You also need to ensure the room has ample 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 draws combustion air from the surrounding space. If there’s insufficient air, unsafe gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could leak into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to install extra 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 up-to-date, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your unit 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 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, put your litter box in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the smelly odors all over your home.
You should also frequently sweep around your furnace to stop dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you have to have furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Lawrence, Scott Temperature can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any furnace model or brand.
Call us at 785-269-0465 or use our online scheduler to get an appointment today.