where should a furnace be placed in a house

The most common places where furnaces are placed include:

• Basements: In homes that have them, basements are the perfect place for a furnace. The system is kept out of the way but also has adequate space and airflow. ...
• Garages: Many furnaces are placed in garages. ...
• Utility Rooms: Some homes—especially those without basements or garages—have a specialized room in the center of the house that holds the furnace and water heater.

Full Answer

How do I choose the best location for a furnace?

Measure the floor space in a closet that may be a site for a furnace. Typically, the best location is centrally located in the house, and the closet must be big enough to accommodate the unit without limiting access to all sides of the unit.

Where do you put a gas furnace in a basement?

Consider an area in a garage or basement that is next to an outside wall and also in proximity to an existing gas pipe. If you have a preference for the site of the furnace, locate the gas pipe in the attic or at a basement ceiling and determine the lineal footage of pipe needed to reach the site.

How do I measure the floor space for a furnace?

Measure the floor space in a closet that may be a site for a furnace. Typically, the best location is centrally located in the house, and the closet must be big enough to accommodate the unit without limiting access to all sides of the unit. If a natural gas line has not been stubbed into the closet,...

Can a furnace be installed in the attic?

Attics: In homes with limited space, the furnace can be installed in the attic. However, not every home has a pre-existing designated space for a system. Older or historic homes, for instance, often featured much smaller heating systems than the modern ones we install today.

Where is the best place to install a furnace?

To run most efficiently, your furnace will need a space with ample fresh air, a source of natural gas, and proper ventilation. These necessary components can be found in large spaces like basements, utility rooms, and garages as well as confined spaces like an attic or closet.

Where would my furnace be located?

Most furnaces are found in the center of your home, either in a special utility closet or down in the basement. If your home doesn't have a basement, it can also be in a crawl space or the attic. You may find other equipment like the water heater or your washing machine close by.

Should a furnace be centrally located?

If possible, the furnace should be centrally located in the home to reduce the amount of ducting needed which can help save you energy and money. This can be a centrally located closet with big enough clearance to accommodate the unit without limiting access.

Does a furnace need to be in its own room?

You can have a furnace installed in a bedroom as long as it's a direct-vent installation, or you can have it tucked away into a separate room opening to the bedroom as long as you have a solid weather-stripped, self-closing door.

Can a furnace be in a closet?

Can You Install a Furnace In a Bedroom Closet? No, you can't install a furnace in a bedroom closet — or the bedroom for that matter. The major component of the average furnace's operation is its burners. A furnace generates heat thanks to fire from a gas or propane energy source.

Why put a furnace in the attic?

An attic furnace, or any furnace that is located above ground level, is less likely to flood. Installing a heater in the attic provides safety in flood-prone locations. Even when furnaces are installed on the main floor, floodwaters frequently overflow the first floor, severely damaging the equipment.

What is code for space around furnace?

Furnace Room Clearance Requirements A general standard is to have at least 30 inches of space between the walls and a furnace's sides.

Where should a furnace be located in a basement?

Consider an area in a garage or basement that is next to an outside wall and also in proximity to an existing gas pipe. If you have a preference for the site of the furnace, locate the gas pipe in the attic or at a basement ceiling and determine the lineal footage of pipe needed to reach the site.

Can you move a furnace?

Moving a furnace requires rerouting electrical, gas, and water lines, as well as air ducts and intakes. This is a task best left to an HVAC professional. You'll likely pay almost half the cost of a new furnace ($4,700 on average) to move it.

Is it safe to have furnace in bedroom closet?

It's not recommended to have a furnace in your bedroom closet due to the toxic fumes that a furnace emits. Keep the furnace as far away from the air you breathe as possible. Furnaces are built to not only heat bedrooms but entire houses.

Can you build a wall around a furnace?

Moving the furnace can be expensive and impractical -- if not impossible -- so your best choice is to conceal it from view. This can be done by placing walls around the appliance and hanging a furnace room door to create a dedicated furnace room.

How far away from a wall should a furnace be?

As a general rule of thumb, your heater should be 30 inches away from furnace room walls on all sides. This allows our service professionals to conveniently work on it. You also need to make sure the room has enough airflow and ventilation, especially if you have an outdated furnace with a metal flue.

Does every house have a furnace?

Heaters, Furnaces, And Boilers are all connected Most homes have a boiler and a furnace to some degree. The furnace is the primary source of central heat, pumping hot air into every room and kicking the cold to the wayside.

How do I know if I have a furnace?

0:170:51How to identify your furnace type - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOr you see a flame during heating. You have a gas furnace. If you have radiators baseboard heatersMoreOr you see a flame during heating. You have a gas furnace. If you have radiators baseboard heaters or radiant tubing throughout your home or you do not have vents connected to ductwork in your home.

Does my house have a furnace?

A: If you have a furnace, it is typically located centrally in the home. Areas to check could be a utility closet, garage, attic or basement. If you have a heat pump, it would be located outside of the home.

Can a furnace be outside?

Can a furnace be installed outdoors? Yes, you can do it. Although it will be less convenient for HVAC companies to repair and service it, it will give you peace of mind as you are sure you aren't in any danger of inhaling harmful gases. Installing the furnace outdoors also means more space for your valuables.

Key Factors

As mentioned above, there are many things you should consider before deciding on the best furnace spot. You have to make sure there’s enough space and air circulation. Also, don’t forget to make sure your furnace has the best possible access to its energy source.

Most Popular Locations for Furnaces

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think about the best place for a furnace? The answer is probably a garage, basement, or various kinds of utility rooms. If that’s your call, then you’re absolutely right.

Bottom Line

An efficient and high-quality furnace is one thing. The other is ensuring to put in the perfect location for a furnace. It may seem insignificant, but where you place the furnace plays a significant role in keeping your heat distribution efficient.

What is the first step in selecting a furnace?

First of all the correct furnace needs to be selected. ‘Choosing the right unit involves performing load calculations for your home,’ explains Jimmy Jackson, strategic HVAC advisor at YouthfulHome. ‘Calculations consider square footage, construction materials, ceiling heights, number of occupants, even your appliances.

How does a furnace work?

Furnaces heat and distribute air throughout the home via ducts. While many claim that installing a furnace is easier than integrating different types of boilers into your home, we thought we'd take a look at the process itself. Do you need to call in a pro or is it a job you can take on yourself? And how long does it take? This is what industry experts think you ought to know.

How many hours does it take to install a new furnace?

How many hours installing a furnace takes will depend on the complexity of the job. ‘An uncomplicated furnace installation will take anywhere from four to eight hours,’ says Jimmy Jackson. ‘Complications could include having to install a new vent flue or condensation drain.’

What is disconnected from furnace before it is removed?

Venting, wiring, gas lines, and ductwork are then disconnected from the old furnace before it is removed.

When should a furnace be tested?

Once the new furnace is in place it should be tested to make sure it is running efficiently.

Does an air conditioner need to work with a furnace?

Bear in mind that air conditioning needs to work with the new furnace. ‘The unit must be compatible with the existing air conditioning unit. The furnace blower will also force cold air and has to match up with the AC unit,’ he explains.

Do you check gas lines before installing?

It’s vital that gas lines and wiring are checked before installation, too. ‘Gas and electric connections have to be done correctly or you can create a dangerous situation in the home,’ says Jimmy.

Where to locate gas pipe for furnace?

If you have a preference for the site of the furnace, locate the gas pipe in the attic or at a basement ce iling and determine the lineal footage of pipe needed to reach the site.

How to determine the amount of gas pipe needed?

Measure the distance from the existing gas pipe to the area above or below the closet to determine the amount of pipe needed. If the attic is a potential site for the furnace, determine the best location for a plywood furnace platform that has clear access to the roof above for the furnace's exhaust vent.

Can a furnace vent be a water heater vent?

Look for an existing water heater vent in a basement. A furnace vent may tie into a water heater vent, which saves the work of installing a new vent through an outside wall or up through the roof.

Can a furnace vent exhaust gasses to the outside of the house?

Furnaces in a closet can vent exhaust gasses to the outside of the house through a wall instead of up through the roof. Determine if this type of vent is practical based on the proximity of a closet to an outside wall. William Machin began work in construction at the age of 15, while still in high school.

What is the most common type of furnace used in a house?

You’ll notice that the most common type of furnace used in a house is a natural gas furnace.

What is a furnace?

A furnace is a part of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. You activate the furnace when you set the temperature in a room by using a thermostat.

How does a propane furnace work?

Propane furnaces works by burning propane and converting it into a gas. A blower, similar to the one used in an electric furnace, blows air across a heat exchanger after the heat exchanger reaches a defined temperature. The newly-warmed air gets pushed out into the space.

How does an electric furnace work?

An electric furnace is different in that it uses an electric motor to pump the air into and out of the furnace. When the air gets too cold, the coiled spools of wire receive electric currents to heat the electric heater. A blower forces the air over the heating elements, through a filter, and out into the environment.

How does a natural gas furnace run?

Natural gas furnaces run off of what it sounds like: natural gas. For natural gas furnaces to warm the air, the gas is ignited by communicating with a thermostat.

What is the starting point of an oil furnace?

With an oil furnace, the starting point is also the thermostat. When the temperature is lower than the temperature you set the thermostat at, the system is triggered. To warm the air, it relies on an oil tank. The oil is filtered and converted into a spray, which is on the burner chamber. It then heats up.

How does the air that is released into the home at the end of the process get heated?

The air that will be released into the home at the end of the process gets heated as it makes its way over the hot burner chamber. After the journey of passing over the chamber is complete, the air is released back into the space.

Where is the furnace room in a house?

If you had to pick a room homeowners use the least, it would probably be the furnace room, right? Your furnace room is most likely hidden away in the basement, and the only time you visit it is to show the HVAC technician where it’s located.

Can you hang kitty litter on a furnace?

Kitty litter – Litter has ammonia fumes that can corrode the furnace’s heater exchange. Wet clothes – Don’t hang them from your furnace; they can cause a fire and will prevent proper airflow. Combustibles – Some examples are gas or paint. Consider moving these things into the garage or better yet into an outdoor shed.