Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run right.
Your furnace can overheat if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it challenging for our professionals to complete furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your unit operating well. An annually serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could reduce your energy bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us discover problems before they become expensive. This could help lessen future repair expenses and potentially prolong the life of your system.
So how much room should your system really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should take a look at manufacturer specifications and Florissant ordinances for clearance guidelines.
As a general suggestion, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This permits our service professionals to conveniently work on it.
You also need to check the space has ample airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.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 draws combustion air from the adjacent space. If there’s inadequate air, hazardous gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is located in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to put in supplemental openings. This could include a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Uncertain if your furnace or water heater has enough ventilation? We can take a look!
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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 system uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to draw in 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 elsewhere. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the smelly odors throughout your home.
You should also routinely vacuum near your furnace to stop 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 Florissant, B & B Heating & Cooling can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any furnace model or brand.
Call us at 314-325-7552 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment today.