Gas Furnace Maintenance Checklist

Use the Gas Furnace Maintenance Checklist to ensure gas furnace upkeep through inspections of thermostats, protective barriers, lights, receptacles, etc.

Gas Furnace Maintenance Checklist



Thermostat

1. Is the thermostat inspected?


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2. Is the thermostat's location described in the inspection report?


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Furnace Description & Location

1. Is the furnace inspected?


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2. Is the furnace's location described?


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3. Is the furnace's energy source and heating method described?


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4. Is the heating system reported as in need of correction if it was deemed inaccessible or if it did not operate?


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5. Is the accessibility of the system checked?


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6. Is the furnace accessible for inspection, servicing, and replacement with an unobstructed passageway and solid continuous flooring at least 24 inches (609.9 mm) wide?


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7. If the furnace is located in the attic or underfloor crawl space, is the unobstructed passageway or opening at least 30 inches high by 22 inches wide?


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8. If the furnace is located in the attic or underfloor crawl space, is the solid continuous flooring at least 24 inches wide and not more than 20 feet long?


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9. Is the opening for the furnace (such as an opening in an attic floor) at least 20x30 inches?


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10. Is there a 30x30-inch level workspace in front of the furnace?


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11. Is the furnace located outside of sleeping rooms, bathrooms, storage closets, or spaces that open only into such rooms or spaces?


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12. If the furnace is a direct-vent furnace, does it meet the exception criteria?


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13. If applicable, does the room where the furnace is installed meet the volume criteria outlined in the local building code?


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14. If the furnace is installed in a space that opens directly to a bedroom, is there a solid weather-stripped door with a self-closing device?


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15. If the furnace is in a space opening to a bedroom, is the combustion air taken directly from outside?


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Furnace Category

1. Is the furnace category checked?


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2. Are Category I and Category IV furnaces the ones inspected most often?


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3. Does the Category I furnace operate with a negative vent pressure?


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4. Does the Category I furnace not produce condensate?


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5. Are the vent connector pipes for Category I furnaces metal Type B (negative, no condensate, metal)?


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6. Does the Category IV furnace operate with a positive vent pressure?


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7. Does the Category IV furnace produce condensing flue gasses?


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8. Are the vent connector pipes for Category IV furnaces plastic (positive, condensate, plastic)?


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9. Are the plastic vent pipes for Category IV furnaces specified or furnished by the manufacturer?


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10. Are common plastic combustion air and venting pipes made of Schedule 40 PVC or CPVC?


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11. Do the manufacturer's installation instructions identify the required plastic pipe material for Category IV furnaces?


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12. Are Type B vent connector pipes made of metal and designed for venting non-condensing gas appliances equipped with a draft hood or fan-assisted furnaces with a non-positive vent pressure (Category I)?


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Venting

1. Are the exterior surfaces of the vent exhaust system (chimney, chimney liner, flue, inlet, and exhaust vent) inspected for signs of improper condensation, water corrosion, cracks, damage, and blockages?


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2. Are the vent connector pipes for Category I gas furnaces Type B Double Wall metal pipes, installed from the furnace to termination?


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3. Do the vent pipes not pass through any air duct or furnace plenum?


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4. Are the vent connector pipes inspected for proper support, slope, and termination?


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5. Do the plastic vent connector pipes slope at least 1/4" per foot (0.25:12) of run for proper condensate drainage?


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6. Are the outlet and inlet vent exhaust pipes and connections inspected for secure fastening and support?


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7. Are the vent connector pipes supported every 4 feet without sags or dips?


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8. Is there insulation around plastic vent pipes that run through unconditioned spaces where below-freezing temperatures are expected?


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9. Are the exterior surfaces of the vent and chimney connector pipes inspected for rust, discoloration, loose connections, and signs of condensation?


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10. Are the vent connector pipes inspected for inadequate clearance from combustible materials?


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11. Is the exhaust transition connection between a draft inducer fan and the vent connector pipe inspected?


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12. Is there a minimum 1-inch clearance between the Type B vent connector pipe and combustible materials?


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13. Is there at least a 6-inch clearance for a single-wall vent connector pipe?


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14. Are the building code and manufacturer's installation instructions checked for the minimum clearances between the furnace vent connector pipes and unprotected combustible materials?


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15. If a vent pipe passes through insulation, is a metal shield installed to provide clearance between the vent pipe and the insulation?


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16. Is the gas vent pipe termination checked for compliance with local building code requirements?


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17. For gas vents of 12 inches or less in size and at least 8 feet away from a wall, do they terminate at least 1 foot above the roof surface with a slope between flat and 6:12?


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18. Do chimneys and gas vent pipes have flashing installed and terminate with a listed cap?


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Protective Barrier

1. Is a protective barrier installed if the furnace is damaged by a moving vehicle, particularly if the furnace is inside an attached garage?


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Light & Receptacle

1. Are light and an electric receptacle installed near the furnace?


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Disconnect & Emergency Switch

1. Is there an electrical service disconnect switch installed at the furnace, including inspection of the switch, its electrical box, plate cover, and wire?


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Cabinet

1. Are the cabinet, cabinet fasteners, and cabinet panels inspected?


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2. Is the required clearance (combustion and service) around the cabinet checked?


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3. Are the manufacturer's installation instructions consulted to determine the minimum clearances required between the furnace and unprotected combustible materials?


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4. Is there a clearance of at least 3 inches (76.2 mm) of working space around the furnace cabinet?


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Turn Off

1. Is the furnace turned off using the service shut-off switch?


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2. Are the cabinet panels removed from the furnace? (Note: This task is beyond the scope of a visual-only home inspection.)


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Blower Door Switch & Control Board

1. Is the blower door airlock switch, which serves as a safety switch for the blower fan compartment, inspected?


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2. Are the blower housing, blower motor, fan blades, and electrical wires inspected for dirt accumulation?


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3. If present, is the fan belt inspected?


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4. Is the blower fan checked for free rotation and minimal play?


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5. Is the connection of the blower fan assembly to the blower compartment inspected?


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6. Is the main control board or circuit board, typically located inside the blower fan compartment, inspected?


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7. Are the transformer and wiring inspected?


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8. Is the electrical junction box inspected?


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9. During operation, is the blower fan checked and listened to for unusual noise? Is excessive vibration checked for?


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Gas Shut-off Valve, Union, Sediment Trap, And Piping

1. Is the gas shut-off valve located outside of the cabinet and near the furnace?


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2. Is the valve accessible, within the same room as the furnace, installed within 6 feet of the furnace, and installed upstream of the union, connector, or disconnect device?


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3. Is the sediment trap (drip leg) installed downstream from the furnace's gas shut-off valve as close to the inlet of the furnace as possible?


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4. Is there no flexible gas connector pipe installed inside the furnace cabinet? Is the gas piping solid?


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5. If present, is there Yellow-Jacketed Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST)? Is it electrically continuous and bonded to the electrical service grounding electrode system or lightning protection grounding electrode system, with a bonding jumper connected to a metallic pipe, pipe fitting, or CSST fitting?


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6. If present, is the Black-Jacketed CSST electrically continuous and bonded to an effective ground-fault current path?


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Gas Valve Assembly

1. Is the gas valve assembly inspected?


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2. Is the inlet gas operation checked using the thermostat (normal operating control)?


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3. Is a label present indicating conversion from natural gas to Liquefied Propane (LP), if applicable?


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Inducer Motor

1. Is the inducer fan motor and blower assembly inspected while it is operating?


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Pressure Switches

1. Are the pressure switches and hoses inspected? (Note: There may be more than one installed for common two-stage furnaces.)


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Condensate

1. Is the condensate trap inspected for condensing units?


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2. Is the condensate removal installation inspected?


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3. Are the condensate drainpipe and traps inspected?


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4. For Category IV appliances producing condensate, is an auxiliary drain pan provided where damage may occur if the condensate drainage system fails? (Note: A pan is not necessary if the appliance has an automatic shut-down device installed.)


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5. If a condensate pump is installed, is it inspected?


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6. If a condensate pump is connected to a furnace located in an uninhabitable space (such as an attic or crawlspace), is the furnace installed to turn off automatically if its condensate pump fails?


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7. Does the condensate pump have an overflow shutoff capability?


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Burners & Manifold

1. Are the burner assembly and manifold inspected? (Note: In-shot burners are common.)


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2. Is the cover panel inspected for indications of water, corrosion, and blockage?


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3. Are the air shutters (if present) inspected?


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4. Is the burner ignition sequence during operation (using the thermostat, a normal operating control) checked? Are the burners observed as they are turned on and fired?


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Ignitor And Flame

1. Are the ignitor, hot-surface ignitor, or spark ignitor, and associated wiring inspected for corrosion, cracks, or damage? Are the flame sensor, flame roll-out switches, and wires inspected?


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2. Are cracks checked for at the hot-surface ignitor (white spots may be visible when it's energized)?


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3. Is the proper operation checked? Is the clicking at a spark ignitor (if installed) listened to?


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4. Is the ignition source checked? (Note: The ignition source should be at least 18 inches above a garage floor.)


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5. Is the flame inspected for erratic flame or anomalies during the operation of the blower fan?


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Limit Switches

1. Are the temperature limit switches and wires inspected?


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Electrical 

1. Are the electrical components, connections, and wires inspected?


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Combustion Air

1. Is outdoor air introduced following methods described in the building code?


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2. Is makeup air provided where clothes dryers and exhaust fans may interfere with the furnace's safe operation?


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3. Is the minimum indoor combustion air for the furnace ensured to be 50 cubic feet per 1,000 BTU/h of the furnace's input rating?


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4. Are the minimum outdoor combustion air requirements met, either by one permanent opening 12 inches from the top of the enclosure or by two permanent openings, with one 12 inches from the top and the other 12 inches from the bottom?


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Air Distribution System

1. Are vibration isolators installed between the furnace and the metal ducts? Is the air filter checked for dirt accumulation?


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2. Are the air filter compartment, access opening, and air seal inspected?


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3. Is accessible ductwork inspected for indications of moisture accumulation or biological growth?


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4. Is accessible ductwork insulation, including exterior vapor retarders, inspected for rips, voids, and damage?


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5. Are ductwork supports, including duct strapping, hangers, sections, joints, and seams, inspected?


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6. Are loose sections, open-air leakage, and failing duct tape or mastic checked for?


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7. Is material indicating possible asbestos material on the duct checked for? (Note: This is a defect and a hazard even if the material appears to be intact.)


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8. Is the return air for the furnace ensured not to be taken from a furnace room, unconditioned attic, closet, bathroom, kitchen, or garage?


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9. Is a supply source (duct register) ensured for every habitable room?


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10. Are a representative number of grilles, registers, diffusers, and dampers inspected for dirt accumulation?


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Sequence Of Operation

1. Does the thermostat call for heat?


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2. Does the inducer motor turn on?


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3. Do pressure and limit switches check for problems?


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4. Does the hot-surface ignitor turn on and glow, or does the electronic spark ignitor spark?


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5. Is power sent to the gas valve, which then opens with a click, supplying gas to the burners that ignite?


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6. Does the flame sensor confirm the presence of flame?


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7. Do the flames heat the exchanger?


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8. Does the blower motor fan turn on and circulate air through the heat exchanger?


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9. Is Delta T achieved?


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Air Flow & Delta T

1. Is airflow over the heat exchanger inspected to ensure it's adequate?


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2. Is Delta T, the temperature difference between the supply air and return air, evaluated as an indicator of system performance?


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3. If Delta T is high, is poor airflow considered a potential problem?


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4. If Delta T is low, is inadequate furnace capacity or excessive air flow considered as potential issues?


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Checklist by GoAudits.com – Please note that this checklist is intended as an example. We do not guarantee compliance with the laws applicable to your territory or industry. You should seek professional advice to determine how this checklist should be adapted to your workplace or jurisdiction.

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