Natural gas furnaces need sufficient space and airflow to run correctly.
Your furnace can shut down if it doesn’t have enough space. It also makes it difficult for our professionals to accomplish furnace repair.
Routine furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your system operating smoothly. An annually serviced furnace may work more efficiently, which could lower your energy bills.
Related: How Does Furnace Maintenance Impact the Energy Efficiency of Your Home?
Maintenance often helps us spot troubles before they begin. This could help reduce future repair bills and potentially prolong the life of your system.
So how much room should your equipment really have?
If you’re finishing your basement or closing off your furnace room, you should research manufacturer directions and Portland laws for clearance guidelines.
As a general recommendation, 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 ensure the space 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 draws combustion air from the adjacent location. If there’s not enough air, hazardous gas fumes and deadly carbon monoxide could flow back into your home.
If your furnace is positioned in a small room with a gas water heater, you may need to add supplemental 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 furnace uses one pipe as an exhaust vent and the other to pull in air.
Although furnace rooms double as laundry and storage space, you should keep yours free of items that could be fire hazards.
This includes:
If you have a cat, place your litter box somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could create wear on your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could spread the smelly odors around your home.
You should also routinely sweep near your furnace to prevent dust from developing.
Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?
Whether you want furnace replacement or annual maintenance in Portland, Three Rivers Heating and Cooling can expertly take care of your needs. Our highly trained technicians can fix any heating equipment model or brand.
Call us at (503) 739-5400 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment today.
As homeowners in Portland, OR, and the surrounding areas brace for the colder months, the…
Air purifiers have become an important tool in improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) of…
From the wet, cold winters to the warm, dry summers, your HVAC system is central…
As the temperature rises, so does the demand on your HVAC system. In areas where…
As we enter the warmer months, you're probably wondering about the optimal temperature to set…
Selecting the right air conditioning filter is crucial to your home's comfort and indoor air…