Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to work correctly.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it challenging for our professionals to complete furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is essential to keep your equipment running smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could decrease your energy bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice issues before they begin. This could help lessen future repair bills and possibly extend the life of your unit.
So how much clearance should your system really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer specifications and Laurel laws for clearance requirements.
As a general recommendation, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service technicians to comfortably repair it.
You also need to make sure the area has ample airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.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 pulls combustion air from the adjacent area. If there’s insufficient air, unsafe gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to add supplemental openings. This could involve a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Uncertain if your furnace or water heater has adequate ventilation? We can help!
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You don’t need to think about airflow and ventilation as much if you have a up-to-date, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your unit 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 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, put your litter box in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could corrode your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the smelly odors all over your home.
You should also routinely sweep around your furnace to block dust from building up.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or routine maintenance in Laurel, H&C Heating and Cooling can expertly meet your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any heating equipment model or brand.
Call us at 301-960-3247 or use our online scheduler to get an appointment now.