When it’s freezing outside, having a working furnace is crucial. Furnaces use combustion air to generate heat, so your house has a warm and cozy atmosphere whenever needed.
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash
No one wants to be cold in their own home. And if you have a boiler, you may be looking for a more updated, efficient way to keep you and your family warm.
Although you should always rely on a certified technician to install your furnace, there are ways you can incorporate a furnace into your interior design floor plan.
Apply for a Permit
One of the first things you need to do before you begin any other step is to ensure the professional technician you’re working with has a permit to install furnaces. That way, you can rest assured that it will be installed correctly. These permits also require an inspection to be done after to ensure everything is up to code.
Create an Interior Design Floor Plan
Regardless of whether you’re renovating your interior or building a house from scratch, you can’t create a proper design without knowing your objective. What’s your goal for creating the space?
Once you know the answer to that question, include your furnace in those plans. Then, you or your contractor can use AutoCAD, or just paper and pencil, to map out your interior design floor plan.
Understand All Furnace Codes
Every building and city is going to have its own set of codes. It’s your job to ensure your contractor and professional furnace technician knows and follows them all.
However, it can be helpful to know the main ones that most municipalities follow. Here are a few of the hundreds of codes your contractor must follow to install your furnace correctly.
Clearance
All furnace rooms must have enough space in an enclosed area. If the furnace is in too small of a space, the heat in the room can be dangerous. It also makes maintenance a nightmare. The general rule of thumb is to keep it at least 30 inches from any walls.
But it varies by area; your technician will know the right ones.
Ventilation
Ventilation is also essential. The air in your furnace room has to have somewhere to go, or it can become a huge safety hazard.
Without air combustion or an exhaust vent, you put your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires. There should generally be about 12 inches from the top of the furnace to a ceiling vent. However, it depends on the size of the furnace room. Your contractor should be able to follow the proper guidelines to keep your home safe.
Energy
Your furnace will require certain levels of energy efficiency. Under federal law, there is a minimum requirement that has to be met.
This minimum varies by location, type of furnace, and furnace input. The amount required can vary from 80% to 95%, depending on the furnace type, such as warm-air or oil-fired furnaces.
Be Mindful of Furnace Placement in Your Interior Design Floor Plan
Let’s face it; as vital as they are, no one wants to see their furnace all the time. So many people always ask if you can tuck the furnace away in a closet. Technically speaking, the answer is yes, but it’s not advised if you can afford not to. If you do, you have to adhere to all of the previously stated codes, which is hard to do in such a small space.
Most furnace rooms should ideally be 6×8 feet or bigger to give you and technicians enough space to access it comfortably. You wouldn’t want the furnace near your bedroom anyway because they can be loud.
Get It Installed Professionally
To minimize property damage, furnace malfunctions, and safety risks, you can’t install a furnace yourself. Instead, always call a professional furnace technician who has the certifications, experience, and know-how to get the job done right.
They know all the required codes, correct electrical wiring, duct systems, pipes, and more to install your furnace correctly the first time. That means you don’t have to spend more money out of pocket for additional repairs that could have been avoided if a professional had initially installed it.
If you really want to do your due diligence, check into the company’s history, reviews, awards, and certification requirements, so you feel confident in the professional furnace technician you chose.
Things to Remember When Installing a Furnace
Additionally, when creating an interior design floor plan, there are a few other details to keep in mind.
Choose the right furnace
Choose the right furnace for your needs. You don’t need to go all out and purchase the most enormous furnace on the market. The biggest doesn’t always mean it’ll work the best in your home. In fact, if the size of the furnace doesn’t work with the size of your home, it can lead to further issues like higher energy bills, humidity in the house, and more.
Double-check your warranty
Another reason to avoid DIY furnace installation is that it may void your warranty. So, check what voids a warranty and what is required. Some furnaces require annual inspections, so it’s best to know what to plan for.
Be diligent about gas leaks
Another major reason to never install a furnace yourself is that you risk the furnace malfunctioning and causing a gas leak. A gas leak can cause death, explosions, and even harm your neighbors.