What Are The Space Requirements For A Furnace?
Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to heat right.
Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough clearance. It also makes it hard for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is essential to keep your equipment working smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could reduce your heating costs.
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 possibly lengthen the life of your furnace.
So how much clearance should your system really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re finishing your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer instructions and Lodi ordinances for clearance guidelines.
As a general suggestion, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service technicians to easily repair it.
You also need to ensure the room has plentiful 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 draws combustion air from the adjacent space. If there’s insufficient air, dangerous gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could leak into your home.
If your furnace is located in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to put in supplemental openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
You don’t need to consider 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 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, put your litter box somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could corrode your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the unpleasant odors all over your home.
You should also regularly clean around your furnace to prevent dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Trust The Local Pros For Furnace Service
Whether you want furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Lodi, Tokay can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any furnace model or brand.
Call us at (209) 257-3156 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment right away.
