Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to run properly.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it hard for our professionals to accomplish furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is essential to keep your unit working smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could decrease your energy expenses.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us discover problems before they start. This could help reduce future repair costs and possibly extend the life of your system.
So how much room should your equipment really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re updating your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should research manufacturer specifications and Front Royal ordinances for clearance requirements.
As a general suggestion, your furnace should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service professionals to comfortably work on it.
You also need to make sure the area 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 kind of furnace pulls combustion air from the nearby area. If there’s insufficient air, dangerous gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is located in a tiny 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 help!
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You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a modern, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to pull in air.
Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace
Although furnace rooms double 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, situate your litter box in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the smelly odors all over your home.
You should also regularly clean near your furnace to stop dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Front Royal, Dave's Diversified Services can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any heating equipment model or brand.
Call us at 540-636-3396 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment right away.