Can a Furnace Leak Water?

If you notice water pooling on the floor inside your home, your first thought might be that the puddle is from a spill or that there’s a problem with the plumbing. However, seeing water around your heating unit might confuse you. Can a furnace leak water?

Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling provides Boiling Springs’ heating and air conditioning services, so we understand how confusing it could be to experience a furnace leak. Below, we explain why the problem may happen and what you can do to prevent it. 

Do Furnaces Leak?

Your furnace works by burning fuel or turning on heating coils inside the unit’s air handler when the thermostat detects a decline in indoor temperature. While the system runs, a blower fan will blow the heated air over the heating element or heat exchanger and push it through your home’s ductwork to warm each room. 

Since furnaces produce heat, you might ask, “Can a furnace leak water?” They can, and for several reasons.

1. Frozen Coils

A furnace leak during summer usually indicates ice forming on the air conditioner’s evaporator coils. A cooling unit with a filthy air filter can shed debris onto the coils, resulting in restricted airflow. If the coils are dirty, the refrigerant inside them may also have problems absorbing warmth and moisture from the air. 

These issues will cause the coils to freeze. The leak comes from the ice melting as the component thaws. 

2. Condensation

Your house could have a standard-efficiency or high-efficiency furnace. The latter will have a secondary heat exchanger that produces excess condensation. Unless the condensate drains from the unit properly, it can pool back into the house. 

3. Furnace Humidifier Problems

Furnaces have humidifiers to keep indoor humidity at reasonable levels. These humidifiers draw water from the house’s plumbing system to add moisture to the air. When the humidifier develops a clog or has a loose pipe, it could cause condensation to collect on the ground under the unit or within the furnace itself. 

4. Heat Exchanger Damage

The furnace heat exchanger is a thin metal shield between the blower fan and the combustion chamber. It’s the component that transfers heat from a gas furnace to the property’s ductwork. The inside of the heat exchanger contains the gaseous byproducts from the furnace’s combustion process. 

If the heat exchanger forms a crack, it could cause condensation to leak from the unit. The damage could also cause a carbon monoxide gas leak, which is an emergency due to the serious hazards the gas poses. If you notice the following possible signs of a carbon monoxide leak, turn off your furnace and contact an HVAC professional immediately for furnace repairs or a system replacement:

• Visible wear on the heat exchanger
• Hairline cracks on the heat exchanger
• Water pooling around the furnace
• Carbon monoxide detector goes off
• Unpleasant smells

5. Clog in the PVC Drain Line

Some furnace leaks don’t come from the furnace directly. For example, a clog in the drain line that expels condensation from the house could cause moisture to seep back inside and pool around the furnace. 

How To Avoid a Leaky Furnace

No matter why a furnace leaks, you should avoid this problem as much as possible. Stagnant water inside your home can become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, both of which pose serious health risks. The musty smell of mold and the increase of indoor allergens will also impact your house’s indoor air quality. 

Regular maintenance is the best way to keep your heating unit functional and leak-free. At least once a year, you should schedule a furnace tune-up from a reputable HVAC contractor who will give your unit a deep inspection before repairing damage, replacing worn components, recalibrating the system as needed, and cleaning the unit. 

The tune-up will address many of the issues that can cause a furnace leak before they get out of hand. The service will also ensure your furnace is ready to tackle the winter cold with fewer chances of a system breakdown. 

Contact the Professionals To Address Your Heating System Concerns

Don’t settle for DIY furnace maintenance or subpar repairs when trying to find an answer to “Can a furnace leak water?” Instead, trust our skilled and experienced technicians at Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling. Proudly serving Boiling Springs, South Carolina, our top-rated HVAC company can provide the ideal solutions to address your furnace problems and execute them flawlessly. 

Our veteran and family-owned company values professionalism and customer service. Call us today at (864) 531-7732 to request your furnace repair appointment.