Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to run correctly.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough room. It also makes it hard for our technicians to complete furnace repair.
Regular furnace maintenance is essential to keep your equipment working well. A routinely serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could reduce your heating 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 reduce future repair expenses and possibly extend the life of your unit.
So how much clearance should your system really have?
How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?
If you’re remodeling your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer directions and West Columbia laws for clearance guidelines.
As a general suggestion, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service professionals to easily repair it.
You also need to check the room has plentiful airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.
Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider
This kind of furnace needs combustion air from the nearby space. If there’s inadequate air, unsafe gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could back draft into your home.
If your furnace is located in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to install more 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 assist you!
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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 double as 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, put your litter box somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the smelly odors around your home.
You should also frequently 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 West Columbia, Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any furnace model or brand.
Call us at 803-265-4208 or use our online scheduler to get an appointment today.