Basement Furnace Room Ventilation Guide

Basement furnace room vents may not seem like it is important until your heat stops working or worse – a fire! In this guide we will show you how to vent a furnace room so your family stays warm all winter.

What is a Furnace Room?

Not every home has a furnace room so you may not be familiar with the term. A furnace room is a small room that contains the washer, dryer and HVAC system – including the home furnace. It is usually found in the basement so it is out of the way. Good ventilation and airflow is important so the hot air can flow throughout the rest of the home.

Tools for Installation

Improving the vents and fresh air flow in your furnace room is easy – you will need the following tools for venting a furnace closet:

• Carbon monoxide detector

• Box fan

• Drywall saw

• Foam insulation

How to Vent a Basement Furnace Room

Here is how to improve the fresh air flow and install an exhaust fan near the floor of the closet door and ceiling of your furnace room for optimal air flow.

1 – Cut a Door Vent

Start by cutting small vents in the bottom of the furnace room door. The vent should be cut to fit your vent so that it fits snuggly inside the door.

Secure the vent in place then test it out by opening and closing the door – it should not move or rattle when the door closes.

2 – Cut a Ceiling Vent

The second vent location needed to fully vent a furnace room is in the ceiling. Since hot air rises this vent is essential for good air flow. The location of your upper vent will depend on where it exits to – some vent hot air back into the basement while others attach to the dryer line and vent outside the home.

Both are good options and depend on your home and basement setup. The ceiling vent will be located a few inches below the ceiling line. Remember to measure your vent size closely on the wall so you do not over or under cut the drywall. The upper vent usually has a fan inside to keep things moving!

3 – Add Box Fans

Need more ventilation? Small rooms that generate a lot of heat will need more than passive ventilation. Cheaper vents allow ‘passive’ 1 way air flows but if you spend a few extra dollars you can get a vent system with a built in fan.

This extra fan will keep air moving and blow the hot air out of your home. It is a little more expensive and does require some electrical know how to install but they are very effective in small spaces.

4 – Add insulation

Cutting holes in your drywall means you need to add some insulation when resealing the new vents. We recommend not skipping this step as a little in-wall insulation goes a long way – plus it makes for a better fit and can stop rattling if it is not a perfect fit. A well-insulated basement will let the right amount of heat in – while retaining heat during cold winter months to heat the basement.

5 – Attach electricity

Before your new vents turn on for the first time you will need to attach them to the electrical lines. In vent fans are small and if you position them correctly in the room you will not need to run the wiring far.

If you do not feel comfortable doing this part you might need to hire a local electrician for an hour or two!

6 – Install Carbon Monoxide Detector

Don’t forget about a Carbon Monoxide detector – it can save your life! Every basement should have a working Carbon Monoxide detector to alert you to build ups of the deadly gas. We also recommend have one installed on every floor of your house and in the attic!