Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run properly.

Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough clearance. It also makes it challenging for our specialists to accomplish furnace repair.

Routine furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your unit working well. An annually serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could lower your utility costs.

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

Maintenance often helps us spot problems before they begin. This could help lessen future repair costs and likely 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 instructions and Auburn and Opelika ordinances for clearance rules.

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

You also need to check the area has plentiful airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an older 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 inadequate air, unsafe gas fumes and poisonous carbon monoxide could back draft into your home.

If your furnace is placed in a little 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 up-to-date, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your unit uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to draw in air.

Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace

Although furnace rooms function 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 elsewhere. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the stinky odors throughout your home.

You should also regularly vacuum by your furnace to block dust from developing.

Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?

Request Expert Furnace Service

Whether you have to have furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Auburn and Opelika, Farnell Mechanical, Inc. can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can fix any heating equipment model or brand.

Call us at 334-524-2458 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment today.