Leaks can be a cause for concern, especially if you’re not sure what’s causing them. A leaky furnace isn’t the end of the world most of the time. There are several reasons your furnace might be leaking, and most of them aren’t all that troublesome. However, if you notice water underneath your furnace, you should identify its source. Properly maintaining your heating system ensures it will last for as long as possible. Plus, it even helps it work more efficiently.
It Could Be a Problem With the Humidifier
Usually, if you’ve got a humidifier in your house, it’s connected to the furnace. Humidifiers help add moisture to the air, and they’re common in dry climates. Sometimes, the humidifier’s drains become clogged. When this happens, water could begin pooling near the humidifier. Then, it can start dripping down around the heater.
To check whether that’s the case, take a look at your humidifier up close. You should notice that its drains are working fine. If they aren’t, then you’ve found your culprit. Get a professional to help unclog it, and you won’t have any more puddles under the furnace.
Condensation Could Be Collecting on the Heat Exchangers
Now, the water could be coming from the furnace itself. When that happens, it’s typically because of the furnace’s secondary heat exchanger. High-efficiency furnaces use more than one heat exchanger, unlike conventional ones. Conventional furnaces only have one of them. On a high-efficiency unit, the secondary heat exchanger absorbs enough heat to convert exhaust into a liquid.
Usually, this liquid drains through the system’s condensate line. Occasionally, these lines get blocked. And, if that’s happening, the water will overflow underneath the unit. You should have a professional clean the condensate line to solve the problem.
Clogged Filters Might Be the Problem
If you haven’t been changing the furnace’s air filters regularly, they’ll become clogged. Then, airflow will be restricted to the furnace’s heating coil. In some instances, the coils can begin to freeze. However, most of the time, the coils will just begin collecting condensation. This will drip onto the floor under your furnace, collecting in a puddle. If you notice anything like this, get a professional to inspect the heater. They’ll be able to tell whether it’s a clogged air filter, and they can replace it for you.
You Might Have Blocked the Condensate Drain
Like we mentioned earlier, high-efficiency furnaces have a condensate line. These lines drain into something called the condensate drain. While the lines might be open, their drains could be clogged. Hiring a professional to inspect the condensate drain would be the easiest move. They can take a look at the entire condensate system while they’re at it.
Your AC Unit Could Be Leaking Into the Furnace
Even though there’s water underneath it, your furnace might not be leaking at all. Some heaters are connected to the home’s AC unit. Because of this, your air conditioner might be dripping onto the furnace. Air conditioning often creates condensation. Usually, the AC unit will have a system to collect this condensation. However, these systems can also break. An experienced HVAC technician would be able to take a look at that for you, though.
What Should You Do if You Notice Your Furnace Leaking?
Water can be damaging to your furnace. Whenever you notice water underneath it, turn off the system. Mop up all of the water around the furnace, and then take off its front panel. Once the front panel is off, clean up any water inside of the heater. If you notice water inside of it, you should call a professional right away.
Leaving water inside of your furnace could cause it to rust. At worst, letting the unit rust could destroy its heat exchanger. Not only is this expensive to replace, but it’s also potentially harmful to your health. A professional will be able to identify what’s causing the leak, and they can fix it, too.
Your Trusted HVAC and Furnace Team
Bernard Heating & Cooling has been serving Hudson and Summit County since 1991. We’re experienced with furnace repairs, maintenance, and installations. We’ll also be able to help you with anything related to your HVAC system. If you’ve seen water underneath your furnace, don’t let it go. Our team can help you fix whatever is wrong. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
