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

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

Routine furnace maintenance is essential to keep your system operating well. An annually 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 issues before they become expensive. This could help reduce future repair expenses and potentially lengthen the life of your unit.

So how much clearance should your furnace really have?

How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?

If you’re remodeling your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should consult manufacturer directions and Carpentersville laws for clearance requirements.

As a general suggestion, your system should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This lets our service professionals to easily repair it.

You also need to make sure 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 model of furnace needs combustion air from the surrounding area. If there’s not enough air, hazardous gas fumes and poisonous carbon monoxide could leak into your home.

If your furnace is located in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to put in more openings. This could involve 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 newer, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your furnace 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 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 unpleasant odors around your home.

You should also frequently clean around 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 Carpentersville, Controlled Comfort HVAC can expertly meet your needs. Our highly trained technicians can fix any heating equipment model or brand.

Call us at 224-412-8308 or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment today.