My gas furnace continues to work well, as it has for 25 years. The air intake to it is from an enclosed space below the furnace which in turn has a screened opening (12" x
18"?) into my living room about 1 foot off the floor. That space also has a small opening (4" x 6"?) to the outside of the house. Thus the cooler air from the living room, mixed with some air from the outside, is sucked into the furnace, heated, and sent out through the vent system.I just had my home fumigated, and when the gas company technician was turning the gas back on, and lighting the furnace pilot, he suggested that I close off the small opening to the outside. He said it would prevent rodents from entering the house, and would decrease my gas bill by a small amount.
This small opening to the outside was purposefully placed there, along with a rain shield on the outside, by the builder of this group of tract houses. The home is on a concrete slab.
Any safety or other reasons NOT to close off this opening, as the gas company representative suggested? In case climate is relevant, I live in the greater Los Angeles area.
Thanks.