What Should I Do If My Furnace Is Leaking Water?

Furnace problems in the winter can feel like your worst nightmare, but a professional heating company can make your heater repair easy and simple. One of the more puzzling Houma heater repairs that you might experience is a leaking furnace. Why is your furnace leaking? And what do you do about it?

Luckily, Trahan’s Heating & Cooling is here to help. We can tell you why your furnace is leaking water and when to call a heating company in Houma. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to tackle any water leaks coming from your furnace with ease!

What Does Water Have To Do With My Furnace?

If you’re like most homeowners, you may wonder how water is even connected to your heating system. In fact, moisture is the enemy of most HVAC processes, so it can be confusing at first to figure out why water is leaking in the first place. The answer lies in the type of furnace that you have.

Non-Condensing Furnaces

Standard efficiency furnaces don’t create water or moisture when they heat your air. The combustion process warms the heat exchanger, allowing air to absorb the heat as it passes by. Any byproduct of the combustion process is expelled outside via the flue. Standard efficiency furnaces are recognizable by their metal exhaust pipe leading outside.

Condensing Furnaces

High-efficiency (or condensing) furnaces operate a little differently. The combustion process occurs the same way, but when the byproduct is expelled along the flue, it goes through a secondary heat exchanger. As the air undergoes a second heat exchange, it is condensed. The moisture turns from a vapor to a liquid as it heats, creating water. High-efficiency furnaces that have condensers have white PVC flue pipes to carry moisture away from your home.

What Causes A Furnace To Leak?

First and foremost, if you have a standard-efficiency furnace, it can’t leak water. A puddle of water underneath your unit has to come from a different source — likely another appliance nearby.

However, high-efficiency furnaces can experiences malfunction in the condensate lines and components that cause the water being carried away to leak back into your home. Some of the most common sources of water leaks in these furnaces include:

• Clogged condensate drain hose
• Leaking inducer assembly
• Damaged or clogged condensate drain line
• Clogged condensate trap
• Leaking condensate pump

Professional Furnace Leak Services

If you’re unsure where your furnace is leaking from or are concerned that water damage might start occurring, call on the pros. Trahan’s team of heating experts is extremely familiar with the different components of your furnace. That means we can precisely and efficiently pinpoint the source of the leak. Then, we’ll provide you with a clear recommendation on the needed furnace repair.

If your furnace isn’t leaking, but you want to prevent the entire situation from occurring, then preventative maintenance is the key. Either you or an HVAC professional can evaluate and clear out the highly used condensate lines and parts. This will prevent the buildup of dust, mold and other clogging agents.

Need Furnace Repairs?

Whether you’re dealing with a water leak from your furnace or another concerning repair, you need a team that knows what they’re doing. Trahan’s Heating & Cooling is your go-to Houma heater team. Let us show you how easy and quick your heater repairs can be! Give us a call today!