Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to run correctly.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it difficult for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system working trouble-free. A regularly serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could reduce your utility expenses.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice problems before they start. This could help lower future repair costs and possibly lengthen the life of your furnace.
So how much room should your furnace really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should take a look at manufacturer specifications and Chelan and Wenatchee ordinances for clearance guidelines.
As a general rule of thumb, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service technicians to conveniently work on it.
You also need to ensure the space has plentiful airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This type of furnace draws combustion air from the nearby space. If there’s inadequate air, dangerous gas fumes and poisonous carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is placed in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to install supplemental openings. This could involve a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Uncertain if your furnace or water heater has proper ventilation? We can take a look!
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You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a modern, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your system uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to add air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms are often also used for 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 somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the stinky odors around your home.
You should also frequently vacuum near your furnace to block 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 Chelan and Wenatchee, Lakeside Heating & Air can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 509-284-4265 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment today.