When installing a new gas-fired furnace or water heater, you must add outside ventilation . There are several good reasons that a furnace room should have ventilation. Notwithstanding the local building codes, any gas-fired appliance needs a source of combustion air to burn freely and effectively.
Does a gas furnace have to be vented?
Just as you would not want your car's exhaust in your home, you also do not want your furnace's exhaust in your home. A furnace vent allows for any gases and exhaust created by combustion to be removed from the home.
Do you need to vent a gas furnace?
A furnace vent allows for any gases and exhaust created by combustion to be removed from the home. If your furnace is not vented, it can lead to dangerous conditions, like carbon monoxide building up within your home.
What is the purpose of the vent on a gas furnace?
Vent systems are an important component of the combustion process of a gas furnace. A venting system ensures that the hazardous gasses are removed from the heat exchangers and burners at the end of a heating cycle . If your furnace is not turning on, the source of the problem may be a damaged vent.
Can I put a gas furnace in a closet?
The heat can safely escape if there is space around the furnace. Do not install your furnace in a storage closet . Any type of flammable material, including insulation, needs to be removed before installing the furnace.
How much venting should a furnace room have?
Most furnace rooms need vents. 1 sq. inch of venting near the ceiling . The minimum area for each vent is 100 square inches (10 x 10 inches).
How do you ventilate a furnace room?
The most common way to add vents to the room is to install a louvered door . (A louvered door has horizontal slats for venting.) If the door is fully louvered over its entire surface then this will work as long as the combined input rating of the gas appliances is less than 175,000 BTU/hr.
Should the vent on your furnace be open or closed?
While you should never fully close air vents , you may increase energy savings by partially closing one or two outlets in your home that are farthest away from your furnace. Partially closed vents still allow air to flow properly through the HVAC system, which prevents overheating and added pressure to the ductwork.
Do natural gas furnaces need a chimney?
Gas Appliances and Your Masonry Chimney. ... But many don't realize that a gas heating appliance – whether it is a furnace, boiler or even a water heater – relies on the chimney for proper venting of the exhaust .
Can I vent my gas furnace horizontally?
The outer pipe draws air for combustion from outside, and the smaller pipe occupies the inner position and is used to vent the exhaust fumes. Piping can be set horizontally to allow venting through a sidewall , or vertical installation can also be undertaken to allow venting through the roof.
How much space is needed around a gas furnace?
As a general recommendation, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides . This allows our service experts to comfortably replace it. You also need to check the space has enough airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an aging furnace with a metal flue.
Where should a furnace be located in a house?
Typically your furnace is centrally located in the home . It is usually located in an area such as a utility closet (by a cold air return), garage, attic, basement, or crawlspace; in the case of a heat-pump (a dual-system) it will be located outside of the home.
Can I store things next to my furnace?
Never leave any combustibles in the furnace room. Don't store anything near your furnace that's combustible at low flash points – like gasoline, paint and paint thinners. Always keep the area free of dust and debris – vacuum and clean around your furnace and water heater tank to prevent dust buildup.
Where does a furnace pull air from?
Conventional furnaces draw air from the area immediately surrounding the furnace . Just imagine a box mounted in the middle of a room in your house with an exhaust fan pumping air into it and a vent carrying it up out of your house.
What kind of door do I need for a furnace room?
If the furnace is in a small room, then we need ventilation openings in the walls or door of that room to let in plenty of air to make up for the air that the furnace is using. ... If it's not big enough then it's called a confined space and we have to provide ventilation openings for more combustion air.
Can a furnace room have a door?
Insufficient combustion air – Need outside air or a full louvered door or a standard door with high and low vents. Insufficient clearance – need metal door or fireproof door to reduce clearance requirements. Some furnaces allowed off sleeping areas with outside air and solid sealed fireproof door.
