Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to work properly.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it challenging for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Annual furnace maintenance is important to keep your unit working smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could reduce your utility costs.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us spot problems before they become expensive. This could help reduce future repair bills and potentially 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 research manufacturer directions and Pella ordinances for clearance requirements.
As a general recommendation, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service professionals to conveniently replace it.
You also need to make sure the space has enough airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.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 not enough air, unsafe gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is placed in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to install more openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Uncertain if your furnace or water heater has adequate ventilation? We can assist you!
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You don’t need to think about 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 add air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms function 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 throughout your home.
You should also frequently sweep near your furnace to stop dust from building up.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Pella, Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating can expertly meet your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.
Call us at 641-628-3621 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment now.