Why Is My Furnace Leaking Water?
Water around your furnace can be both troubling and surprising for owners, especially as they try to locate the source. Especially in places like Canada, with over 51% of houses having furnaces, problems arise very frequently. The furnace leaking water is a common problem that can come from several areas, including simple maintenance problems to potentially serious breakdowns. Here are so some of the reasons for this and knowing them is very important if you want to respond promptly & output-oriented, meaning without damage your furnace:
In this blog, we will explore the main reasons for furnaces leaking water and look at common issues such as condensation problems, blocked drains humidifier failures and more. With clarity on these factors, it ensures solving your furnace leaks, so your home heating system is not compromised during winter months.
Identifying the Kind of Your Furnace in Your Canadian House
There is a lot in common between a high-efficiency condensing furnace and a conventional furnace. Nevertheless, there are three primary distinguishing aspects to help you identify the kind of furnace in your house –
Exhaust Pip
Checking out the exhaust pipe can indicate your furnace type. The flue pipe is the exhaust for your furnace that vents out of the home. This type of pipe is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), more or less white plastic, which usually also indicates that your furnace has high-efficiency. In the recent years, people all over places like Montreal, and Vancouver have been opting for PVC pipes for their furnaces.
AFUE Rating of your Furnace
One other manner to find out the sort of furnace is breathing in trying a very high-quality at your AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) score. The score is printed on an EnergyGuide label of the machine, which is yellow. These standard-efficiency gas furnaces have an 80% AFUE rating, which means they convert about 80% of the energy to heat your house. A furnace that receives the AFUE rating of 90 and above is considered a high-efficiency model.
Age of the house
The majority of newly constructed homes are built with a high-efficiency furnace. If you recently moved into a new construction home or one where the heating and cooling systems were replaced, there’s a good chance that you have been enjoying energy-saving benefits from your high-efficiency models.
Reasons Behind Your Furnace Leaking Water
1. Airflow Issues
For your furnace to work well and avoid the occurrence of water leaks, it needs proper airflow. This may result in water seeping out into the house if there is a hindrance in air circulation. Below are some common causes of furnace leaking water associated with airflow –
- Obstruction in Air Return: If there is furniture or dust that blocks the air return vent, the flow towards the furnace will be limited. As a result, this may lead to the accumulation of moisture (water vapor) within your air handler and cause excessive water to escape.
- Clogged Filter: It can also lead to similar issues as a blocked air return when an air filter becomes dirty or congested. Replace your furnace filter routinely (every 1-3 months) in order to maintain proper circulation. Prior to you changing your HVAC filter make sure that you turn off your furnace by thermostat.
- Blockage in Vent Pipe: All gas furnaces have a vent exhaust pipe (or flue pipe) that discharges exhaust gases outside. Places like Quebec and Vancouver often get snowed heavily which contributes to such blockages. If the vent pipe becomes obstructed by snow, ice, or debris it can result in condensation starting to overflow inside the furnace leading to leaks.
2. Efficiency related issue
High-efficiency condensing furnaces are susceptible to certain leaks because of their special design. Two components that may cause leaks are:
- Leakage in Inducer Assembly: The inducer assembly pulls exhaust gases through the heat exchanger and pushes them outside. Water dripping from your furnace into your home might be one sign of a leaking inducer.
- Problems in Secondary Heat Exchanger: Extra heat can be drawn from the exhaust gases through a secondary heat exchanger. A clog in this part of the furnace will cause an accumulation of calcium carbonate, which is an exhaust gas byproduct. Subsequently, your floor will be soaked in water when it drips down from the heater.
3. Condensation Issues
High-efficiency furnaces feature a secondary heat exchanger which extracts more heat from the emissions. Calcium carbonate can collect on this part causing increased condensation and clogging. Condensation will then seep out of your furnace and fall onto your floor.
- Blockage: Usually, these are severe problems that would require an HVAC specialist to fix in case any damage occurs. The condensate consists of a pump, pan for draining, drain and trap. As the evaporator coils along which it travels become condensed so it places itself down into a drip pan within way of a drain which passes out altogether or via a condensate pump. The condensate system cannot escape blocking if the coils work with dirt. As a result, condensation drips on the floor or any other lower surface below the runoff water which mixes with dirt. Any part of this muddy water may choke off your system. In addition, you can do an annual cleaning of the furnace and have a properly sized air filter to avoid clogging and improve the overall efficiency of your system.
- Any Crack in Drip Pan: The most common place where blockage occurs is on the drain trap. This trap gets easily blocked at its bottom due to the accumulation of dirt even in small amounts. Luckily, a long flexible cleaning brush can be used to clear anything that could cause blockage out of it while keeping it clean all through. Thereafter, pour water into the cleanout cap to flush out the trap. The drip pan is one source among many others that are often reported as leaking. Because it is made from thin cheap plastic material that becomes easily damaged by PVC pipe pressure or impact force in case it cracks. Mostly however since that component has no strength, I would advise for its replacement by a professional.
- Condensate Pump Issues: Sometimes the pump may have been accidentally unplugged; in this case, you need to fix the leak promptly. However, a faulty or damaged pump could also be an issue. In such a situation, consult with a technician about replacing it.
External Issues
Many times the flooding is because of being attached to a nearby unit. This is often the case in more temperate climates where several HVAC devices can run in one day. It’s usually better to start with these cases since they are less likely to require professional assistance for fixing them.
- Involvement of Air Conditioners: Most recent HVAC systems integrate conventional furnace units as well as A/C in one efficient setup. Often, they are adjacent or successive. For instance, we pointed out earlier that the condensate drain system serves central AC systems rather than furnaces. Therefore, this issue is not serious and can be solved by emptying your air conditioner’s drip pan regularly.
- Presence of Humidifiers or Dehumidifiers: Dehumidifiers are primarily used to remove moisture from the air. Drip pans for old models should be emptied frequently whereas newer models may be connected directly into drainage systems. If your furnace and dehumidifier are close or have a common drain, overflows or clogs related to the dehumidifier can be mistaken for a furnace problem. It is not likely that you will need to employ a dehumidifier simultaneously with the use of your gas heater because basically it dries out the air and winter months are colder. Humidifiers serve an opposite purpose, which is increasing humidity. Many homeowners prefer whole-house humidifiers attached to their furnaces to improve air quality and keep their homes warmer during winter. Humidifier units use water from your home’s plumbing system. Like any other plumbing system, humidifiers could develop leaks, blockages or cracks.
That way, water may begin dripping onto your nearby floor or furnace again leading one to believe that actually, his/her furnace has started leaking. Most whole-house humidifiers drain excess water into a floor drain that connects to a sump pit. When there is pooling around this drain make sure that your sump pump is functioning properly.
Other Appliances That Can Cause The Leak
- Attic rooms: Although unlikely in attic-located HVAC systems, furnaces in basements sit amidst literal waterworks. Water can leak through the pipeline above your ceiling and fall on the floor below as well as on top of your heating unit too. It is also important when your furnace is connected to a drain because the floor will slope gently, encouraging runoff. Consequently, even if the leak is not nearby, you may find water under your furnace.
- Washing Machine: There are two additional possibilities for water beneath your furnace in basements that have laundry rooms in them. The most usual suspect is your washing machine, which can leak or have a loose drain hose. A leaky washer, depending on its proximity to the furnace and whether or not there are multiple drains in your basement, can easily flood around your furnace without being an apparent source as such.
- Wahstubs: Another potential culprit is wash tubs that share the same drain with washers. Unlike a half bath where there is separate piping, a washtub might have a common drain pipe with the washer. Some washers empty directly into the sink hence an unfiltered hose’s debris might plug up the trap allowing it to overflow; alternatively, any leaks through this part of the drainage system could lead to flooding that would collect around any pool nearest to it. This flooding may happen beneath a furnace if it’s near a laundry tub basin.
Conclusion
Furnaces are an important unit to have in the home, especially in cold regions like Canada. To avoid failure of furnaces in winters, it’s advisable to keep them in check. In cases of leakage in your furnace, you should rely on professionals like Smile HVAC. Our team consists of expert professionals trained to efficiently and effectively look into your leakage problem and fix it in the best way possible. From Montreal to Quebec, our services span across the whole Canadian region.
FAQ
Why is my furnace leaking water from the bottom?
Furnace water leakage from the bottom can be caused by a few factors, including a blocked condensate drain, a malfunctioning condensate pump, or a cracked heat exchanger. It's important to address this issue promptly, as it can lead to more significant problems.
Is it normal for a furnace to leak water?
No, it's not normal for a furnace to leak water. While some condensation is typical during the heating process, excessive water leakage indicates an issue that requires attention.
How do I stop my furnace from leaking water?
To stop your furnace from leaking water, you should check and clean the condensate drain line, replace a faulty condensate pump if needed, and inspect the heat exchanger for cracks. It's best to consult an HVAC professional for proper diagnosis and repair.
How much water should be coming out of the furnace?
The amount of water produced by a furnace's condensate system should be minimal and typically not noticeable. Excessive water leakage is a cause for concern and should be addressed promptly.
How do you unclog a furnace drain line?
To unclog a furnace drain line, you can use a wet/dry vacuum or a pipe cleaner to remove debris and blockages. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the drain line can help prevent clogs.
Can a dirty filter cause the furnace to leak water?
Yes, a dirty filter can indirectly cause water leakage from a furnace. A clogged filter restricts airflow, leading to a drop in temperature in the heat exchanger. This can cause condensation to freeze, potentially leading to leaks when it thaws. Regularly changing or cleaning the filter is essential to prevent this issue.
