Natural gas furnaces need enough space and airflow to work right.

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

Regular furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your equipment running smoothly. A regularly serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could reduce your heating costs.

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 lessen future repair bills and potentially extend the life of your system.

So how much room should your system really have?

How Much Space Does My Furnace Need?

If you’re updating your basement or enclosing your furnace room, you should consult manufacturer instructions and Pflugerville laws for clearance rules.

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

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

Related: Furnace Service or Furnace Replacement: What to Consider

This type of furnace draws combustion air from the nearby space. If there’s not enough air, dangerous gas fumes and deadly 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 supplemental openings. This could consist of a fully louvered door or vents in the walls.

You don’t need to assess airflow and ventilation as much if you have a modern, high-efficiency furnace with PVC piping. Your unit uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to add air.

Keep Combustible Materials Away from Your Furnace

Although furnace rooms double as laundry and storage space, you should keep yours free of items 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 create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the smelly odors throughout your home.

You should also routinely sweep around your furnace to prevent dust from developing.

Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?

Request Expert Furnace Service

Whether you need furnace replacement or regular maintenance in Pflugerville, Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can repair any HVAC model or brand.

Call us at 512-355-1482 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment right away.