Can your furnace leak water

A cracked heat exchanger not only allows dangerous gases to escape but also permits acidic condensate to leak out. Condensate traps are essential for carrying away acidic condensate from high-efficiency furnaces. A broken or accidentally disconnected condensate drain line can also result in furnace leaks.

Any HVAC system with a built-in humidifier will have plumbing to supply that humidifier with water. These water lines can develop leaks over the course of their lifespan, resulting in a furnace leak. For instance, a leaky water line positioned above your furnace can simulate an actual furnace leak.

If your furnace is located in an attic, a roof leak can achieve the same results. Pinpointing the exact source of the leak is essential for tackling furnace leaks. Your HVAC technician will perform a thorough inspection of your heating system, searching for any signs of furnace leaks as well as any other preventive issues that could pose a serious problem for your furnace later on.

The steps your HVAC technician takes to stop the furnace leak in its tracks depends on the type of leak encountered. For leaks caused by a clogged condensate trap, your HVAC technician will flush out the blockage and recommend regularly scheduled trap cleanings to prevent future clogs.

Damaged drain lines may also be replaced as needed. For leaks caused by your humidifier, your HVAC technician will check the water lines for any signs of cracks or pinhole leaks. Technicians will also check the connections between your humidifier and water lines for proper fit. This creates water vapor forms. Find out more about Heat Exchangers here! As water transitions from a vapor to a liquid, more heat is released into the secondary heat exchanger.

In this way, the furnace functions even more efficiently. From there, the condensation is drained into a condensate pump or a floor drain. It is relatively easy to identify your furnace type, and to narrow down the reason for the leak.

Look at the exhaust pipe. When the pipe is white plastic furnace PVC pipe, then it is a condensing furnace, making it high efficiency. A metal exhaust pipe has a standard efficiency rating and does not produce condensation. When a high efficiency furnace releases the exhaust gases, condensation is created.

This condensation is a significant amount of moisture on the PVC pipe, and it needs to be drained either into a floor drain or a condensation pump. A water leakage occurs when the condensation is unable to drain properly. The drain hose, which slopes down from the PVC exhaust pipe, can easily become clogged with debris, dirt, and dust. If any tubing that aids the draining is damaged, disconnected or clogged, this is when condensation leak occurs. If the inducer assembly has a crack in it, water can leak out of the furnace.

As the water exits, it passes through a condensate drain line. If this has a loose connection, cracks, or holes it can cause a water leakage. Also, if the drain line is clogged it can cause the condensate to back up and create a water leak. A clogged condensate trap can cause condensate to back up and overflow out of the furnace. Note, not all high-efficiency furnaces have a condensate trap. The condensate pump is where the condensate eventually drains into. This is yet another component that can clog, leading to a leak.

A blocked drain, or even a partially blocked drain, will result in the furnace leaking. If you notice water on the floor around your high efficiency furnace unit, or water or rust stains within the cabinet, your furnace is not draining properly.

Similarly, a malfunctioning pump can cause water to back up and cause a furnace leak. A professional will have to replace it in this situation. Most condensate pumps last between 3 - 5 years, after that it may not perform optimally. Overflowing condensate pump. If your furnace unit is a conventional furnace operating at standard efficiency, then it will not generate any water.

If there is standing water around your furnace, it is probably coming from another appliance. When your AC unit is running it generates water, making it a common source of leaks. Your AC may leak for a number of reasons, such as:. All AC units have a primary drain pan and it is located under the evaporator coil.

Some AC units have a secondary drain pan which is placed beneath the unit. The purpose of the drain pan is to catch any condensate. If there is a crack or hole, the excess water will spill or leak out.

A clogged drain line will cause the drain to disconnect from the drain pan if water cannot pass through. Then the water will drip and pool around your AC unit. A condensate pump is necessary to drain the condensation from the HVAC. If you have a high- efficiency furnace, then the furnace and air conditioner most likely share the condensate pump.

Learn more about your AC leaking water here! The culprit could also be your water heater. In time, the drain valve can loosen, which can allow water to seep. A crack in your water heater can result in leaks caused by sediment buildup over time. It is the result of poor maintenance that sediment builds up and this can lead to corrosion.

Your water heater could spring a leak due to the anode rod degrading and corroding as a result of poor maintenance; this causes leaks through the space where it was once located. Unfortunately a water heater can develop cracks due to a sediment build up. This is a result of a lack of maintenance. Anode rode decay becomes nearly nonexistent because of all the corrosion. Water leaks through the space where the anode rod used to be.

Another reason you make see water on the ground is if you have a whole-house humidifier. An HVAC system with a built-in humidifier will require plumbing to supply water to the humidifier. A leaking humidifier can occur when the water lines crack, break, or get clogged due to lack of maintenance. Water can be destructive. Many times furnaces have their AFUE rating printed on a yellow energy guide sticker on the unit.

Possible Causes of Leak Again, the most common reason for a leaking furnace is a condensation leak. High-efficiency furnaces extract heat from the combustion gases for a longer period of time than a standard-efficiency furnace does, causing the gases to cool, then condense. The condensation is routed to a floor drain. If the cause of the leaking water is condensation, there are a few possibilities.

You might have a clogged condensation drain or tubing, a break in the condensation line, or issues with the condensate pump, if you have one. A standard-efficiency furnace extracts some heat from the combustion gases and quickly vents them out the exhaust or flue pipe.

If you have a condensation leak with a standard efficiency, then its exhaust or flue pipe may be incorrectly sized. There should be no water involved with a standard-efficiency furnace. If he or she rules out a condensation leak, there are other possibilities, all still requiring a professional. One option may be an issue with your whole-house humidifier, if you have one connected to the furnace.

It could be leaking inside your furnace, though having an annual maintenance appointment on your HVAC system should prevent this from happening.