Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to work right.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it difficult for our specialists to accomplish furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is important to keep your equipment working smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could reduce your energy expenses.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice problems before they begin. This could help reduce future repair costs and possibly extend the life of your system.
So how much room should your furnace really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re remodeling your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should consult manufacturer directions and Lancaster ordinances for clearance requirements.
As a general recommendation, your furnace should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service professionals to comfortably replace it.
You also need to check the space 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 type of furnace draws combustion air from the surrounding area. If there’s insufficient air, unsafe gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could leak into your home.
If your furnace is placed in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to put in more openings. This could involve 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 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 deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the unpleasant odors around your home.
You should also routinely vacuum around your furnace to stop dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Lancaster, Fairfield Heating & Cooling can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 740-331-4331 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment today.
