How Do I Prepare a Furnace for Installation?
Whether setting up a new home or replacing an old unit, you need to prepare your furnace for installation. Depending on the type of furnace being installed, different installation requirements must be addressed.
A gas-powered forced air heating system typically has two components: the burner assembly and the furnace itself. If the furnace is being put into a brand new home, it may already meet all necessary codes for installation; therefore, only the burner assembly needs to be installed. However, if this is an older home or one where equipment will need servicing to operate correctly, some concerns require inspection before beginning work. Remember, by starting any work on your own without first speaking with a professional, you risk voiding any warranties on materials or equipment, and you could be putting yourself in danger.
To ensure that your furnace is ready for installation:
Follow all safety precautions when inspecting the unit.
Ensure that gas has not previously been turned on to the stove (from previous owners) by turning off the gas line at the meter, also turning off nearby valves that connect to appliances like dryers, stoves, and water heaters.
Inspect your home’s ventilation system by checking all vents for blockage, cleaning them if needed before beginning work.
Inspect filters in both furnaces and air conditioning units that are outdoor; this includes checking insulation around ducts running through unheated sections of your house if it is located in an unheated area.
To prepare the furnace for installation, you must first disconnect any power to the unit by either turning off circuit breakers or unplugging it from an electrical outlet. Next, check the voltage supplied to the system by studying at the main terminal block, which is typically located on the side of the furnace behind a removable access panel. Finally, inspect all wiring and connections to assure that they are not frayed or bare wires touching each other; this can cause serious injury if not repaired before starting work!
After completing these tasks, move inside your home to connect up all necessary gas lines according to local code requirements; typically, this includes a 3/4″ black iron pipe running through a 2-1/2″ rigid metal conduit terminating at the meter shut off valve. It is also a good idea to run an extra gas line from your exterior wall through 1-1/4″ flexible metal tubing, which will connect to a manual gas shutoff valve for your home.
Before beginning installation, you should have all piping routed where it needs to be and safely secured with straps or fasteners. Inspect all joints by feel or sight to ensure they are above ground level and securely attached to both ends before turning on any power! Ensure that no sharp bends are included in this process as they can wear away at the insulation of the pipes over time, eventually leading to leaks.