Gas Furnace Installation In Attic

The following are a ttic furnace installation requirements based on 2009 irc and 2009 imc the codes refer to it as appliances in attics.

Gas furnace installation in attic.

This drain removes the excess water that a heating system will generate. In homes with limited space the furnace can be installed in the attic. A furnace in the attic also costs less to install than other designs since the access point to it is usually through the roof. High efficiency gas furnaces with sealed combustion chambers require such an arrangement when installed in a sealed attic.

Attic furnace access passageway and platform. In flood prone areas instaling a furnace in the attic provides protection. Space in your home is limited. When you have this unit in a space that you normally don t use then it creates more usable space in your living environment.

The trick to the installation of a gas furnace in an attic space is routing the condensate drain from the attic down through the core of the house to the basement. Just installing the furnace in the attic crawl way of a single story home gives protection from most flooding. Ideally you will have room for your furnace in the attic but installation up there can be difficult to manage. Older or historic homes for instance often featured much smaller heating systems than the modern ones we install today.

Even when furnaces are put on the main floor floodwaters often overrun the first floor causing severe damage to the unit. The gas cock must be t handle type. The drain must be installed through the core of the house as water will be flowing during the colder months. Attic furnace installation must comply with you local mechanical code or imc international mechanical code if such was adopted in your area.

However one contractor cited the danger of leaking gas being trapped in the attic and causing a fire or explosion. High efficiency furnaces aren t usually recommended for an attic. One of the latest talking points in this area is the installation of a furnace in the attic. Selecting a unit that fits your needs is half the battle.

A furnace can suffer from a drop in energy efficiency if it s in an unconditioned space such as an attic. When a furnace is installed in an attic the passageway to and service area surrounding the equipment shall be floored. These units should not be installed in areas normally subject to freezing temperatures. Gas furnaces shall be installed by a licensed plumber or fitter only.

With the attic sealed we couldn t smell the odorant and the gas could accumulate.