QA

Quick Answer: How To Build A Furnace Enclosure

Can I enclose my furnace?

If you are finishing your basement and building walls, incorporate a small area to enclose the furnace, AC, and or water heater. These louvered doors provide great ventilation. Another option is to create a set of built-in shelves in the door that don’t even look like a closet.

Can I build a wall around 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 much clearance is required around a 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.

Does a furnace need to be enclosed?

The answer is yes, of course you can enclose your furnace. The space has to allow for appropriate ventilation (to avoid a number of health and safety issues, as well as ensuring proper furnace performance), and has to allow for easy access.

Can you 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.

What kind of door do I need for a furnace room?

A fully louvered door. The most common solution is to get combustion air from the rest of the house. This is done simply by putting vent openings in the furnace room to connect it to other rooms in the rest of the house and allow air to get in.

Can you put drywall in furnace room?

For the drywalling and fire taping solution you are required to install a solid layer of drywall on all surfaces of the furnace room including all walls and the ceiling that is fully taped and sealed with mud. Any remaining holes are to be sealed with fire caulking.

What kind of drywall do you use in a furnace room?

Fire resistant drywall is made with glass fibers in an extra-thick design. This makes them ideal for use in utility rooms, garages and areas near a furnace or wood stove.

How can I hide a furnace and water heater?

Perhaps the simplest way to hide your furnace and water heater is to add a sliding curtain as a divider. You will need to measure the wall height to determine proper curtain length, as well as the needed width. Be sure to give a few inches of clearance so the curtain doesn’t touch your heater.

What is code for space around furnace?

Most codes require a minimum of 30 inches of clear space between the front of the furnace and any permanent obstruction.

How close to a furnace can you build a wall?

Each county or municipality establishes space requirements and safety regulations for furnace rooms. A general standard is to have at least 30 inches of space between the walls and a furnace’s sides.

What is the minimum clearance from combustibles for a single wall furnace vent?

Single wall metal connectors – Depending on the appliance and installation, clearance to combustibles should be 9 to 18 inches. If the listing of an appliance specifies a different clearance, the listed clearance applies. Double wall, uninsulated, or “B” vent – Clearance to combustibles is typically 6 inches.

How much air does a furnace need?

The easy answer is oxygen is a key element in combustion, therefore, your furnace needs air. A gas furnace needs approximately thirty feet of air for every foot of gas used. This is roughly the equivalent of running a bathroom exhaust fan into your furnace’s combustion chamber.

Does HVAC need ventilation?

The simple reason is, ventilation is required for both HVAC comfort and good air quality. Without enough ventilation in your space, you will eventually (and sometimes quickly) experience comfort issues and even health problems.

How much space does an electric furnace need?

What Size Electric Furnace Do You Need? Home Size (Single Story): Electric Furnace Output Needed (BTU per hour.): AC Unit Size Needed: 1200 to 1500 square ft 55,000 BTU 2 tons 1500 to 1800 square ft 60,000 BTU 2.5 tons 1800 to 2500 square ft 70,000 BTU 2.5 to 3 tons 2500 to 3500 square ft 90,000 to 100,000 BTU 3.5 to 4 tons.

Where is the best place to put 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.

Does furnace room need fire door?

1) A furnace room shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on the ceiling and on each side of the walls. 2) A door shall be provided to each furnace room.

Can I put a door in front of my furnace?

It’s fine. The barn door will let more then enough air flow through. Just make sure you have kids there is a way to lock them out.

Does a furnace door have to be fire rated?

Does my furnace require a fire rated enclosure? That depends on several factors, but in most instances, yes. This was later revised to allow an exemption for sealed combustion furnaces in most instances.

What is fire resistant drywall?

Fireproof drywall is the common term; its industry name is Type X drywall. The thickness of this drywall is 5/8-inch, including all layers. Glass fibers are added to the board to help it retard fire. Also, because it is denser than normal gypsum-and-paper drywall, it takes longer for the fire to degrade it.

Can a furnace be in a bedroom?

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 daily as possible. Furnaces are built to not only heat bedrooms but entire houses.