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

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

Regular furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system running well. A regularly serviced furnace may heat more efficiently, which could lower your energy expenses.

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

Maintenance often helps us spot troubles before they start. This could help reduce future repair expenses and likely prolong the life of your furnace.

So how much room should your equipment really have?

How Much Space Will a Furnace Take Up?

If you’re updating your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer instructions and Big Spring ordinances for clearance rules.

As a general suggestion, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service experts to easily replace it.

You also need to ensure the area has ample airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an aging furnace with a metal flue.

Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider

This type of furnace draws combustion air from the adjacent space. If there’s not enough air, unsafe gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.

If your furnace is positioned in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to install supplemental openings. This could consist of 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 modern, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to draw in air.

Keep Flammable Items Separate 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 elsewhere. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could move the stinky odors around your home.

You should also frequently clean near your furnace to stop dust from building up.

Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?

Request a Free Quote for Furnace Service

Whether you have to have furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Big Spring, SKC AC LLC can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.

Call us at 432-203-4881 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment now.