Have you uncovered a leak that seems to be coming from your furnace? Leaks should be attended to quickly since they can cause further damage to your furnace's electrical and are a potential safety hazard.
Here's a list of the top five causes for a leaking furnace.
A Condensation Leak
Condensation leaks can be a minor problem or a major repair. It all depends on the type of furnace you own.
When you own a high-efficiency furnace, condensation is a normal process. Your furnace produces condensation as it pumps cool exhaust away from the furnace. Condensation water collects underneath the furnace and is funneled to a drain.
Condensation is not a repair unless there is more water collecting than usual. To check for excess water from condensation, ensure that the condensation tubing is unclogged, the condensation line is free from breaks, and that the drain itself isn't clogged.
Standard-efficiency furnaces, however, should not form condensation. If you see condensation, this requires immediate attention from a professional. The likely cause is an improperly sized flue pipe causing condensation to form as the pipe cools down.
Here's a tip: You can tell whether your furnace is high-efficiency or standard-efficiency by looking at the vent pipe. High-efficiency vent pipes are made from white PVC while standard efficiency exhaust pipes are made from metal.
A Humidifier Leak
Your furnace is connected to your home's tap water supply through the furnace humidifier, which puts moisture into the air. When the humidifier is in need of repair because of cracks or clogs, or because the pipes leading into the humidifier are cracked or broken, it can cause the humidifier to leak onto the furnace making it look like a furnace leak.
A Clogged Internal Drain
Another possible source of a furnace leak is the furnace's internal drain. Furnaces share an internal drain with your air conditioner. When that internal drain becomes clogged or plugged, the air conditioner's condensate line can push water back toward the furnace. If that water accumulates on your furnace, it can look like a water leak from the furnace.
Pipes Around Your Furnace
Check the pipes that are near your furnace for leaks, too. Like the humidifier leaking onto your furnace, cracked pipes can also cause water leaks that look like they originate from your furnace if the leak is on or collecting near your furnace.
The Furnace Secondary Heat Exchanger
When you have ruled out all of the above potential sources for a leaking furnace, it could be a failing or broken secondary heat exchanger inside of your furnace. This can be a costly repair that often means replacing an older furnace with a newer model.
To keep your furnace running at peak efficiency, contact Furnasman for expert service.
