Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run correctly.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it hard for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is important to keep your equipment operating smoothly. A regularly 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 spot issues before they become expensive. This could help reduce future repair expenses and likely prolong the life of your system.
So how much clearance should your equipment really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re remodeling your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should consult manufacturer specifications and Greensburg ordinances for clearance rules.
As a general suggestion, your furnace should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service experts to comfortably repair it.
You also need to make sure the space has enough airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an aging furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This kind of furnace needs combustion air from the adjacent space. If there’s inadequate air, hazardous gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could leak into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to put in more openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Not sure if your furnace or water heater has proper ventilation? We can help!
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You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a newer, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to draw in air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms function as laundry and storage space, you should keep yours free of items 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 deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the stinky odors throughout your home.
You should also frequently sweep by 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 routine maintenance in Greensburg, Wallpe Heating & Cooling can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any furnace model or brand.
Call us at 812-663-7252 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment today.