Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to work properly.

Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it difficult for our specialists to accomplish furnace repair.

Routine furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system working trouble-free. A routinely serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could lower your utility bills.

Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?

Maintenance often helps us notice problems before they start. This could help lessen future repair bills and potentially lengthen the life of your system.

So how much area should your furnace really have?

How Much Space Will a Furnace Take Up?

If you’re finishing your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer directions and Front Royal statutes for clearance guidelines.

As a general recommendation, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This lets our service technicians to comfortably replace it.

You also need to check the space has enough airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an aging furnace with a metal flue.

Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider

This type of furnace draws combustion air from the surrounding space. If there’s not enough air, dangerous gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could leak into your home.

If your furnace is located in a tiny room with a gas water heater, you may need to install extra openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.

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 Flammable Items 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, situate your litter box somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the unpleasant odors all over your home.

You should also routinely vacuum by your furnace to stop dust from building up.

Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?

Request a Free Quote for Furnace Service

Whether you need furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Front Royal, Dave's Diversified Services can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any furnace model or brand.

Call us at 540-636-3396 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment today.