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

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

Routine furnace maintenance is crucial to keep your equipment working well. An annually serviced furnace may run more efficiently, which could reduce your utility 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 lessen future repair expenses and possibly lengthen the life of your system.

So how much clearance should your furnace really have?

How Much Space Should My Furnace Have?

If you’re updating your basement or sealing off your furnace room, you should take a look at manufacturer instructions and Omaha ordinances for clearance requirements.

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

You also need to make sure the room 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 adjacent area. If there’s not enough air, hazardous gas fumes and poisonous carbon monoxide could back draft into your home.

If your furnace is positioned in a little room with a gas water heater, you may need to add 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 pull in air.

Keep Flammable Items A Safe Distance from Your Furnace

Although furnace rooms function 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, put your litter box somewhere else. Cat urine contains ammonia, which could corrode your furnace’s heat exchanger. Plus, the furnace could circulate the stinky odors throughout your home.

You should also regularly vacuum around your furnace to prevent dust from developing.

Related: Is it Time for Furnace Service or Replacement?

Trust the Local Pros for Furnace Service

Whether you need furnace replacement or routine maintenance in Omaha, Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning can expertly handle your needs. Our highly trained technicians can work on any furnace model or brand.

Call us at 402-509-5940 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment now.