Why is My Furnace Leaking Water?

Why is My Furnace Leaking Water?

When temperatures drop, you expect your furnace to keep you warm and comfortable, even if it's frigid outside. Having an HVAC professional inspect your furnace before temperatures drop can prevent unexpected and unpleasant surprises. But if you discover a puddle of water leaking from your furnace, it's best to call a professional right away.

Why Is Your Furnace Leaking Water?

Many furnace leaks are due to a malfunctioning condensation drain or tube. This type of leak can occur with a high-efficiency furnace, which extracts heat from combustion gases over a longer period than standard-efficiency furnaces. When this gas cools, it becomes condensation and should be routed to a drain. When these parts work correctly, moisture is disposed of. Some systems also have a pump to deal with condensation. However, if they break or become clogged, your furnace can leak. Fortunately, this is often an easy fix and does not require you to replace your furnace.

For standard-efficiency furnaces, where water is not involved, an incorrectly sized exhaust or flue pipe can lead to leaking water.

Home Humidifier

Another culprit may be your home humidifier if you have one attached to your HVAC setup. Instead of adding moisture to the air to make your home more comfortable when the heater is on, the humidifier might be leaking into the furnace, which then leaks itself.

Clogged Drain

A furnace can leak even when it's not in use. For HVAC systems where the furnace and air conditioner share the same drain, the furnace may appear to be leaking when the drain is clogged and the air conditioner is running. This is because the air conditioner cannot correctly drain because of the clog.

In some instances, replacing your furnace is the only option. This is the case if your furnace has a faulty secondary heat exchanger, which is utilized in high-efficiency furnaces.

If you're unsure why your furnace is leaking water or even if you suspect the reason, it's best to call an HVAC professional. While the fix may be relatively easy and much cheaper than replacing your furnace, you don't want to assume the cause of the leak and be wrong, potentially leading to more costly repairs down the road.

Is your furnace leaking water? Do you want to be sure it will last the entire winter? Call Command Services Center today for more information or to schedule an appointment. We're happy to assist or to send an expert technician to your home.