Code for "clearance" around a furnace - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Plasma1 · 2010-09-01, 10:52 PM

I ended up getting a 4 year old Trane from a neighbour and installed it in place of my old furnace. The Trane is wider than my last and the side of the unit is only 10.5" from one studed wall ( can be moved if have to). Both the front and back of the unit have about 30" of clearance. I haven't hook up the gas yet as I don't have a license so I'm just using the unit for A/C. What a difference from the 20 year old unit it replaced. The 'heating coils' looked fine on the old unit.

My question is what does the code say for clearance for the side of the furnace. A sticker on the inside the furnace says 2" on all sides.

TKG26 · 2010-09-01, 11:55 PM

Assuming this is gas? The 2" on the sides and back sound normal.Code for service clearance is 24" to the front of the unit. But speaking as a service technician you wont make any friends if you ask us to squeeze in front of furnace with only 24" of room and change out a blower motor!

IF you got 30" even better..

ScaryBob · 2010-09-03, 02:02 AM

That's interesting. I once had to take out a wall because it was less than 2 feet from a gas water heater. Are furnaces that different or have the code and equipment changed?

TKG26 · 2010-09-03, 10:03 AM

Was thermostat and burner facing the wall?

ScaryBob · 2010-09-03, 12:37 PM

To the best of my recollection it wasn't but that was some time ago. It might have been the problem. IIRC the thermostat and burner might have been on a slight angle toward the wall which was about 6" away..

2010-09-01, 10:52 PM	#1
Plasma1 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Just outside the centre of Canada Posts: 123	Code for "clearance" around a furnace I ended up getting a 4 year old Trane from a neighbour and installed it in place of my old furnace. The Trane is wider than my last and the side of the unit is only 10.5" from one studed wall ( can be moved if have to). Both the front and back of the unit have about 30" of clearance. I haven't hook up the gas yet as I don't have a license so I'm just using the unit for A/C. What a difference from the 20 year old unit it replaced. The 'heating coils' looked fine on the old unit. My question is what does the code say for clearance for the side of the furnace. A sticker on the inside the furnace says 2" on all sides.

2010-09-01, 11:55 PM	#2
TKG26 Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: OTTAWA Posts: 2,891	Assuming this is gas? The 2" on the sides and back sound normal.Code for service clearance is 24" to the front of the unit. But speaking as a service technician you wont make any friends if you ask us to squeeze in front of furnace with only 24" of room and change out a blower motor! IF you got 30" even better.. __________________ Licenced HVAC TECH: "Without seeing your problem i can only offer suggestions, no warranty is included with my advice"

2010-09-03, 02:02 AM	#3
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	That's interesting. I once had to take out a wall because it was less than 2 feet from a gas water heater. Are furnaces that different or have the code and equipment changed? __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2010-09-03, 10:03 AM	#4
TKG26 Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: OTTAWA Posts: 2,891	Was thermostat and burner facing the wall? __________________ Licenced HVAC TECH: "Without seeing your problem i can only offer suggestions, no warranty is included with my advice"

2010-09-03, 12:37 PM	#5
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	To the best of my recollection it wasn't but that was some time ago. It might have been the problem. IIRC the thermostat and burner might have been on a slight angle toward the wall which was about 6" away.. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

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