Natural gas furnaces need adequate space and airflow to heat correctly.

Your furnace can get too hot if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it difficult for our professionals to perform furnace repair.

Regular furnace maintenance is important to keep your system operating smoothly. A regularly serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could decrease your energy expenses.

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

Maintenance often helps us spot issues before they become expensive. This could help reduce future repair bills and possibly lengthen the life of your unit.

So how much room should your equipment really have?

How Much Space Should My Furnace Have?

If you’re updating your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should consult manufacturer specifications and Carson City statutes for clearance rules.

As a general recommendation, your furnace 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 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 kind of furnace pulls combustion air from the surrounding location. If there’s inadequate air, unsafe gas fumes and toxic carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.

If your furnace is located in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to add extra openings. This could include a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.

You don’t need to think about 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 A Safe Distance from Your Furnace

Although furnace rooms function 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, situate your litter box in another room. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could deteriorate your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the smelly odors all over your home.

You should also routinely vacuum by your furnace to stop dust from accumulating.

Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?

Request a Free Quote for Furnace Service

Whether you have to have furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Carson City, Anderson Heating & A/C can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any furnace model or brand.

Call us at 775-854-9700 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment right away.