As the temperature begins to dip, one of the last things you want is to have issues with your furnace. If you begin to see water forming around the unit, you may start to worry and wonder what’s happening. Usually, this signifies that something is either leaking, dripping or not draining properly. Even though you’re depending on the type of furnace unit you have, there are different issues. It should be noted that you should never see water around your furnace unit, sometimes the issue could be a minor one and easily fixable.
Condensation
With high-efficiency furnaces, the most common cause for water around the unit is condensation. The cause of condensation is usually clogged condensation tubing or drains breaks in the condensation line and possible issues with the condensation pump if you have one. Be aware though, a standard-efficiency furnace shouldn’t have condensation, however, if it does, it is usually because the flue pipe was sized incorrectly. The hot exhaust cools down and will condense in the pipe which causes to drain back to the furnace and leak out.
Humidifier
Do you notice a small device that is attached to your furnace? This device that has various hookups for water, electricity, and drainage–then you have a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the warm air that is blowing into your home making – making breathing easier. A couple of common issues with the humidifier include a clogged filter or drain which causes the unit to leak. If not fixed in time, the leak could cause internal damage to your furnace unit.
Air conditioner A-coil
Above the furnace sits the air conditioner evaporator coil. this is part of your central air conditioning system, and can drain up to 5 gallons of water every day while running your ac unit. If you notice water coming from under the furnace during the summer, it most likely the drain line plugged up or a ban drain pan for the evaporator coil.
Secondary Heat Exchanger
The purpose of a secondary heat exchanger is to remove heat from the exhaust of the furnace. A faulty secondary heat exchanger is very costly to fix and if the problem is not solved then it may be time to replace your old furnace and install a new one.
If you’ve noticed water around your furnace unit and are concerned, it’s important to contact an HVAC contractor to provide heating maintenance. Contact the team at AAC Services today!