Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to work correctly.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough room. It also makes it difficult for our technicians to accomplish furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system running smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could lower your heating 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 lessen future repair expenses and possibly prolong the life of your system.
So how much room should your furnace really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re updating your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should take a look at manufacturer specifications and Wharton statutes for clearance requirements.
As a general recommendation, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service technicians to easily replace it.
You also need to ensure the area 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 kind of furnace needs combustion air from the nearby space. If there’s insufficient air, dangerous gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a tiny room with a gas water heater, you may need to install more openings. This could include a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Not sure if your furnace or water heater has proper ventilation? We can assist you!
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You don’t need to consider airflow and ventilation as much if you have a newer, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your unit uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to pull 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 create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the stinky odors throughout 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 want furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Wharton, Faust Air Conditioning and Heating can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 979-323-6130 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment right away.