Revised:
March 30th, 2023
You come back from vacation or come home from work one day to find that your furnace is leaking water. What could be the cause? Especially if your unit appeared to be running fine before the incident. In this video, we’ll explore the possible causes and potential fixes for this problem.
Hi, I’m Luke from Fire & Ice. As a residential sales professional, I have helped hundreds of Central Ohio homeowners diagnose problems with their HVAC systems. At Fire & Ice, we believe in giving our customers as much information as they need. In this video, we’re going to discuss potential reasons why your furnace is leaking water.
High efficiency furnaces create water condensation through its combustion process. Normally this is vented or drained from your furnace. Condensation can pool if it is not getting exhausted from your furnace. If you see this, call an HVAC professional for maintenance on your system.
Furnace Humidifier Problem
Furnace leaks are sometimes related to humidifier issues. Humidifiers draw water from your plumbing and add moisture to your furnace’s air. A leak could indicate that you have a loose pipe or a related issue that is causing water to build up. When your humidifier is leaking into your furnace, it can also be leaking dirty air into your system that could be going into your home, which could trigger mold and bacterial growth.
Air Conditioner Drain Clogged
Another cause of a leak could be that your air conditioner drain is clogged. If you can trace the leak to an internal pipe, that may be the source of the issue. It could be connected to your air conditioner and be clogged, broken, or malfunctioning. If you are able to identify that this is the issue, tell your HVAC professional and have them attend to your system before any corrosion occurs.
A heat exchanger is a thin metal shield between the combustion chamber and the blower that transfers heat from the furnace to the air ducts and then through your home. If this becomes cracked, it can leak condensation.This can also be hazardous and cause carbon monoxide to leak through your vents. Noticeable cracks upon inspection, worn areas, strange smells, or water collecting around the furnace can all be signs of a cracked heat exchanger. If you have any of these signs, turn off your furnace and call an HVAC technician.
Especially if your furnace leaks during the summer, the problem could be due to frozen air conditioner coils. This can occur due to a blocked filter, dirt and debris on the coils themselves, a lack of airflow, or a refrigerant issue. If any of these occur, your coils will literally freeze over and can turn into a block of ice. If this occurs on your unit, turn it off to help thaw the coils and call a technician.
What Can You Do?
We always recommend annual maintenance be performed by a professional to maintain your warranty, for your safety, and to ensure the job is done right. But you can do a few things to help solve your issue. Look for leaks around your furnace humidifier. And if you can identify where the leak is, it could be an easy fix. Also check your furnace’s drains for any clogs. A clogged drain can easily back up condensation into and around the furnace.
What Are The Next Steps?
I hope by now you have a better understanding of potential reasons why your furnace is leaking water. If you’d like to schedule a service appointment for your system, click the schedule service button at the top of the screen. Thank you for watching and we look forward to making your day better.
