Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to work properly.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough clearance. It also makes it hard for our technicians to perform furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system running smoothly. A regularly serviced furnace may work more efficiently, which could decrease your energy costs.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us notice issues before they become expensive. This could help reduce future repair bills and likely extend the life of your furnace.
So how much room should your system 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 Manassas laws for clearance guidelines.
As a general recommendation, your system 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 ensure the area has enough airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an older furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This type of furnace draws combustion air from the adjacent area. If there’s insufficient air, dangerous gas fumes and poisonous carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to install extra openings. This could include a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.
Unsure if your furnace or water heater has adequate ventilation? We can assist you!
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You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a up-to-date, 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 are often also used for laundry and storage space, you should keep yours free of things 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 corrode your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the stinky odors all over your home.
You should also frequently vacuum by your furnace to prevent dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Request Expert Furnace Service
Whether you have to have furnace replacement or routine maintenance in Manassas, Woody's Sudden Service Inc can expertly meet your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any heating equipment model or brand.
Call us at 703-278-2036 or use our online scheduler to get an appointment today.