Clearance for "furnace" access"?

[sleepy hollow]

I am finishing my basement and need to frame around my air exchanger/blower unit for my heat pump system. What is the minimum clearance required/recommended in front of the unit for purposes of maintenance access?

Thanks.

[Rich]

The unit should have that information posted in the users' manual. If not - it's going to depend on how easy it is to get to to maintain it - change filters - etc.

[sleepy hollow]

Thanks, for some reason I did not think to check that. I was hoping that 30-32 inches would be plenty. It certainly would be plenty of room to remove and clean the filter which is about 20 inches in length.

But I will look at the documentation. Seems to me, though that there was a code issue here. Perhaps that is for a real combustible furnace.

[Rich]

UBC doesn't say anything about it - will probably have to ask building department, mfg recommendations, or Uniform Mechanical Code.

[sleepy hollow]

Will do, thanks.

[roger g]

It will be in your gas code (Assuming it is a gas furnace) It's around 3 feet. In service you must be able to pull the whole fan assembly out plus some room to manouver.


roger

[sleepy hollow]

No, actually it is a heat pump air handler. Just the coils and a blower and a filter.

Thanks

[roger g]

I've worked on coils and had to pull them out to clean while the copper lines are still attached. You will need at least the depth of the coil for clearance so you can pull the complete coil out from the air handler. An air handler has usually the same blowere system as a furnace and needs clearance to pull it out.
I've seen a fairly easy job to clean a/c coils turn into a major demolition because some carpenter who knew nothing about a/c said "yeh, I think there's enough room to work in there.".



roger

[sleepy hollow]

Excellent advice. You stimulated my thinkning. I should have considered that since I have replaced the blower and cage once myself. Maybe I'll just go ahead and put that door there instead of a wall.