Can You Install a Furnace in the Attic?

The heating system that keeps your home comfortable also tends to take up a significant amount of space, which can be problematic for homeowners who want to maximize their living space. Since furnaces are commonly installed in basements, where they are crammed in with other equipment like water softeners and water heaters, it can seem like an optimal solution to add them to the attic.

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While an attic furnace has its benefits, it’s also not without significant drawbacks. Here is what you need to know about installing a furnace in the attic and what to seriously take into consideration.

Can You Put a Furnace in the Attic?

You can definitely install a furnace in the attic, and it’s a trend that has grown popular for homeowners conscious about saving space. Many professional contractors can safely install a furnace in your attic without any major issues, as it’s an easy installation. Now, what comes after is what you need to consider before you make this decision. As most furnaces are designed to be used in the basement, where they are commonly installed, the lower energy efficiency and higher maintenance requirements can make your decision difficult.

Benefits of Installing a Furnace in the Attic

The major benefit of having your furnace in the attic is the space savings it provides. If you have a finished basement, placing a furnace there can take up valuable living space. For homeowners with large families where every little bit of space matters, it can be a good decision to put it in the attic instead. Since most people use the attic for storage, putting a furnace in there is often easier than placing it in a basement that’s already filled with other systems like your washing machines or water heater.

Since your attic is often far away from other areas of your home, you also get the benefit of noise reduction. The insulation in the attic also acts as a sound barrier, so you’re even less likely to hear it when it’s in use. If you’re using your basement as a living space, the constant sound of the furnace might not be a pleasant thing to constantly listen to.

The installation is rather straightforward, and you can save on instalation costs if you’re existing home doesn’t already have ductwork installed. It’s easier to install ducts that flow downwards from the attic walls than it is to install ducts that go upwards from the basement. Since basements are prone to floods, placing the furnace in the attic can help you avoid this expensive repair if a flood ever happens in your area.

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Disadvantages of Attic Furnaces

One of the major disadvantages of attic furnaces is that the maintenance and repair requirements are higher. Since the attic often experiences more constant shifts in temperatures during the seasons, this can affect the lifespan of your furnace. Your ductwork can also suffer and experience leaks more often. As the open space in your attic is less than the open space in a basement, it’s also often harder to perform maintenance.

Having the furnace in the attic can reduce the energy efficiency of the entire system. The problem is that during the winter weather, the outside temperatures can often match those inside the attic. This means that your treated air can lose heat in the cold attic temperature before it reaches the rooms down below. Problems can worsen when the treated air travels through the ductwork and encounters air leaks. While the initial installation costs might be cheaper, in the long term the reduced energy efficiency can cost your wallet more.

There are also fire hazards that can occur as a result of bad furnace installations from inexperienced contractors. Since your attic contains a lot of insulation and wood and the furnace produces a lot of heat, a fire can easily spread faster than if you were to have it installed in the basement. That’s why it’s important to find a professional contractor that’s vetted and that you can trust to do things the right way.

Is It Worth Installing a Furnace in the Attic?

Given the significant pros and cons of installing a furnace in the attic, it’s often based on your specific situation. For most homeowners, the space savings might not be worth the added cost for repairs and lower energy efficiency. But if your basement makes up a large portion of your living space and it’s an area where you really want to save space and minimize noise, then placing the furnace in the attic can certainly be worth the cost. You’ll just need to decide what you prioritize the most.