Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run right.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough clearance. It also makes it hard for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system running well. A regularly serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could reduce your utility bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us spot issues before they begin. This could help lower future repair expenses and likely prolong the life of your furnace.
So how much room should your equipment really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should research manufacturer directions and Genoa statutes 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 comfortably replace it.
You also need to make sure the area 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 pulls combustion air from the nearby space. If there’s insufficient air, hazardous gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is placed in a tiny room with a gas water heater, you may need to install more openings. This could involve a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
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 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 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 in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the unpleasant odors all over your home.
You should also routinely 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 Genoa, Assured Appliance & Heating & Air can expertly meet your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at +1 847-293-0047 or use our online scheduler to get an appointment today.
