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Is Your Furnace Leaking?
If you’re noticing a puddle of water on the ground outside your furnace, or if that puddle has been steadily increasing in size, then it sounds like your furnace is leaking! If this is what is happening, what you can do about it varies from situation to situation. We’ve outlined 14 common reasons why your furnace may be leaking and why you should call a professional furnace company like Black-Haak in Greenville, Wisconsin.
1. Water Condensation
Water condensation is the most common reason for furnace leaks. Water is being forced out of the heating vents into your home, and then it falls back down to the ground, where it puddles up on your floor. This is not uncommon during the winter months, even in rooms that have been heated, because hot air naturally rises. If you notice that your furnace is turning on and off frequently, and if you see water on the floor more often than before, then it may be an indication of a leak.
2. A Blocked Air Return
Another common reason for furnace leaks is because of a blocked air return. When your furnace is installed inside the wall, there may be an air duct that leads from the furnace to the outside of your home. If you notice that this duct has become clogged with dust, then the air coming through it may be no longer be filtered by your furnace before it re-enters your home again. This may cause the furnace to overheat, and it may also be a sign of a leak.
3. A Blockage in the Vent Pipe
Another common reason for furnace leaks is a blockage in the vent pipe leading directly outside. It’s essential to know how your furnace is venting outside your home so that you can inspect it thoroughly and make sure there aren’t any clogs before they cause a leak. If there are no blockages, you might want to look for signs of condensation around the vent or in the return air duct where it connects to the outside of your home.
4. A Blocked Pipe
If your furnace is leaking water on the ground, and if it’s happening more than usual, you will want to check the pipe that runs from your furnace to the upper floor of your home. There may be a crack in this pipe, or condensation may have built up around it during the winter months. If there is condensation around this pipe, you can either clean it up or wait for it to evaporate naturally.
5. PVC Drain Line Plugged
If your furnace is leaking water on the ground, then it might not be coming from the furnace itself. It might be coming from a PVC drain line that has become clogged. This drain line is what carries any spilled water away from your furnace. If it becomes clogged, then you may see an increase in the water around the furnace. This can be a sign of a leak from the drain line.
6. Blocked Drain Line
Another common reason for furnace leaks is a blockage in the drain line leading from your furnace to your septic tank. This is a handy way to get rid of water, but if it becomes clogged, then you may see an increase in the water inside or around your furnace. If this happens, you may want to have it inspected. In the meantime, you may want to wrap a rag around the end of the drain line and sweep out any debris blocking it.
7. Filter Plugged up
Another common reason for furnace leaks is a clogged filter. If you have a dirty air filter, it will force your furnace to work harder to push the air through the house. When this happens, condensation may build up around the filter and leak out onto the floor below. If it isn’t clogged, you still might notice an increase in the water around your furnace if you’ve recently replaced your filter.
8. Dirty Furnace Filter
If you notice an increase in the water around your furnace, and if this is happening more than usual, then you will want to check the filter on your furnace to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. If it’s dirty, you might need to clean it yourself or have it inspected by a professional.
9. Drain Pain Has Leak
It’s essential to know how your furnace drains so that you can inspect it and make sure there aren’t any clogs before they cause a leak. If your furnace is dripping water onto the ground, and if you haven’t seen this happen before, then it might be a sign that the drain line is clogged with debris. You can either remove the debris or have a professional clean out your drain line.
10. Problems With the Condensate Pump
Another common reason for furnace leaks is that your condensate pump has failed. During the winter months, water is often pumped into your house to keep the air warm. However, if the condensate pump has failed, it will have to work harder to get rid of all of this extra water. This extra effort can cause more condensation on the floor below. If you notice an increase in the water around your furnace, and if this is happening more than usual, you may want to have your furnace inspected by a professional.
11. Broken Humidifier
Another common reason for furnace leaks is that your humidifier has become clogged. This won’t cause any flooding, but if the humidifier gets clogged, more condensation may be on the floor below. You might notice this happening if the water still pours out of the humidifier into a bucket on the ground and not onto your floor. If this is happening more than usual, and if your furnace isn’t draining water onto the ground, you should ask a professional about the issue.
12. Malfunctioning Secondary Heat Exchanger
After a furnace leak, you may notice water on the floor, but it doesn’t come from the furnace itself. If this happens, then you may want to have a professional inspect your secondary heat exchanger. This is a chamber that is connected to the central furnace and that helps to regulate temperature. It might seem like nothing is wrong with this chamber when it’s empty, but when it becomes clogged with calcium carbonate, it will cause an increase in condensation on your floor below.
13. Plumbing to the Air Conditioner
If you’ve noticed a water leak in your furnace, but the water is not coming from the furnace, then it could be that there’s a problem with your plumbing. In this case, you should have your pipes fixed or replaced before having your furnace repaired. If this issue hasn’t been addressed yet, call a plumber to investigate further and to resolve any leaks in the plumbing system before installing a new furnace.
14. A Bad or Broken Blower Motor
If you’re noticing that your furnace is leaking water, but your blower motor isn’t working, then it could be because of a bad or a broken motor. This can occur if there is a problem with the screws that connect the blower motor to the main housing of the unit. If this is the case, you’ll need to have those issues addressed before having repairs done on your furnace.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why you might need to have repairs done on your furnace in Greenville, WI. By taking the time to address any of these issues, you can avoid furnace failure and save yourself all of the frustration and inconvenience it may bring. If you need help with indoor air quality services, geothermal system services, HVAC maintenance and plumbing services, contact Black-Haak today. We can help with Greenville furnace repair, Appleton furnace repair, Oshkosh furnace repair and heating system repair throughout Fox Valley.
