A leaky furnace could mean quite a few things from condensation or faulty parts to a system clog. Let’s cover each issue a little further to give you a better idea of which you may have or want to prevent.
Condensation
A typical situation with high-efficiency furnaces is that due to their cool exhaust they can produce condensation. If you are not sure if your furnace is high efficiency, check the vent pipe. If the vent pipe is made of PVC (generally a white plastic material).
With a standard furnace, you should not experience condensation but there are rare cases in which it can happen. It is possible that the flue pipe on your furnace is sized incorrectly. This can cause the hot exhaust to cool down and create condensation.
Heat Exchanger
If you have ruled out condensation, it is a possibility that the heat exchanger has or is failing. If this is the case, please give us a call at Alpine Temperature Control in St. George. A heat exchanger failing may mean your furnace will need to be replaced. The quicker it is inspected the better.
Humidifier
Your furnace humidifier could be leaking too. Having your annual service check should let you know if that is the issue and a leaky humidifier can cause quite a bit of damage if left un-repaired. If you have already had your annual service check then you can almost certainly rule out the humidifier because your technician would have let you know it was leaking.
A System Clog
Our final possibility for a leaky furnace could be tied to your air conditioner. If you are still operating your air conditioner AND it shares the drain with your furnace, you could very well have a drain plug in your system. This drain plug could be making the furnace look like the leaky culprit.
In a perfect world, we could diagnose your leaky furnace over the phone, but in order to be absolutely sure we need to see your system. Leaks can cause major issues within your furnace and possibly other parts of your home so please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
