Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run properly.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough room. It also makes it hard for our technicians to accomplish furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is essential to keep your unit operating smoothly. A routinely serviced furnace may work more efficiently, which could reduce your heating bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us spot issues before they start. This could help lessen future repair expenses and likely lengthen the life of your unit.
So how much clearance should your furnace really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer directions and Crystal and Twin Cities statutes for clearance guidelines.
As a general suggestion, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service professionals to comfortably work on it.
You also need to make sure the space has plentiful 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 needs combustion air from the adjacent location. 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 supplemental openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Unsure if your furnace or water heater has adequate ventilation? We can help!
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You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a up-to-date, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to add air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms double as 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, put your litter box in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the unpleasant odors throughout your home.
You should also routinely clean around your furnace to prevent dust from accumulating.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you need furnace replacement or routine maintenance in Crystal and Twin Cities, GV Heating & Air can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 763-535-2000 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment today.