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Reasons Why Your Furnace May Be Leaking Water

Reasons Why Your Furnace May Be Leaking Water

You rely on your furnace to heat your home during the cold winter months. In return, your furnace relies on you to properly care for and maintain it. If you are replacing an air filter in the unit or just completing an overall inspection and you notice a puddle of water beneath the furnace, you may wonder why that puddle is present. Here are three of the most common reasons why your furnace may be leaking. 

Condensation is Building Up In the Furnace

It is normal for condensation to occur within your furnace. Condensation occurs within the unit as the cold air surrounding your unit comes into the hot air that the unit is producing. In fact, condensation is so common that furnaces have both a condensate line and drain trap to ensure the unit can get rid of any condensation built up within the unit. If you notice water pooling around the bottom or back of your furnace, the condensate or drain trap may be clogged or damaged, which prevents water from escaping as it should. When this happens, water builds up within the unit and then leaks out where it should not because it cannot escape where it should. 

There Is a Faulty Furnace Secondary Heat Exchanger

Another reason why there may be a puddle of water under your furnace is because you have a faulty or damaged furnace secondary heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is responsible for separating the air you breathe from the combustion that occurs when gas, coal, electricity, or some other heat source heats up your air. This helps to prevent things like carbon monoxide poisoning. As the unit is used, the heat exchanger can combust or crack. Your unit may make strange noises, give off unpleasant scents, or create water pooling under the furnace if there is an issue with the secondary heat exchanger. 

Condensation occurs within the unit as the cold air surrounding your unit comes into the hot air that the unit is producing. In fact, condensation is so common that furnaces have both a condensate line and drain trap to ensure the unit can get rid of any condensation built up within the unit.

There's A Problem With the Furnace Humidifier

The final reason why your furnace may be leaking water is because there's an issue with the furnace humidifier. The most common issues with the humidifier include it being clogged or being at the end of its lifespan. The humidifier is responsible for creating humidity, so your heated air is not completely dry. To create humidity, water is needed. If the humidifier in your unit is not working, water may pump to the humidifier but not be used, which creates a puddle of water you may see under your furnace. 

If you notice a puddle of water under or around your furnace, the first thing that you should do is turn your furnace off and clean up the water. Once you have done that, you will want to call in a heating contractor, such as us at Action Heating & Air, Inc. We can take a look at your furnace, determine why it is leaking water and then correct the problem. This helps to ensure your unit is safe and that it can continue to heat your home efficiently. Call us today to schedule your appointment.