It’s that time of year again when your furnace is constantly running and working hard to heat your home. During a New England winter, you rely on your furnace to provide comfort and warmth to the entirety of your home within minutes. Like any appliance, there’s always a possibility for problems to occur with your furnace. So, what would cause your furnace to leak and what are some of the ways you can repair it? Continue reading to find out!
Why Is Your Furnace Leaking?
A furnace leak is a very common and frustrating problem to have in your home. Luckily depending on where the issue lies, it can be a relatively simple problem to fix. It’s important to get the mess cleaned up and to find the root cause of the problem as soon as possible. If not treated right away, a leak can affect other areas of your home and potentially cause mold to grow. Here are a few reasons why a leak may occur:
Condensate Leak
Condensate is one of the most common causes of a furnace leak. Condensation can take place you’re your furnace flue gases condense within the flue piping during the heating cycle, and when your AC is operating, and cool air condenses within the coil. The condensate pump may also not be operating correctly, check to make sure it is plugged in. If you experience clogging or breaking in these pipes, or your pump is not pumping, you’ll notice condensation leaking around the base of your furnace, and if you allow the water to collect it is likely that water damage will occur.
Humidifier Leak
In order to provide some extra comfort in the winter, many people will add a humidifier to their heating systems. These components hook up right directly into your plumbing system to add moisture to the air. A humidifier is constantly flowing with water inside them so a clog or break would likely cause water to drip around your furnace.
Plumbing Leak
Occasionally, when your furnace looks like it could be leaking, the issue might lie within your plumbing system and not the furnace itself. The good news here is that there may not be any issues with the actual furnace, which could save you money. However, it’s still essential for the leak to be addressed. Like any other pipe, a backup in the drainage system may occur when clogged or broken. Since plumbing pipes are often located around the furnace, it is common to mistake this issue for a furnace leak.
How to Repair a Furnace Leak
Once you’ve noticed a furnace leak, it’s time to act fast. Before calling a professional to diagnose the problem, there are a few things vital things you should do:
- Turn off your furnace and all electrical breakers associated with it.
- Clean up all the water that has pooled along your furnace to prevent water damage from occurring. If you’ve accumulated a large amount of water, you may need a wet/dry shop vacuum.
- Call the professionals at Daigle Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling to diagnose your problem and to inform you of what the next steps look like.
There’s always a possibility for problems to occur with a home heating system, but if you catch it in time, you can often mitigate a much larger disaster. To help avoid issues with your furnace, schedule regular professional maintenance, and inspections. The professionals at Daigle Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling are willing and ready to assist you with all your furnace needs. Give us a call at 603-434-6353 today!
About Daigle Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Founded over 40 years ago, Daigle Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is family-owned and operated by the Daigle family. We are proud to provide quality, dependable plumbing, heating, and cooling services for our customers in Derry, NH, and the surrounding areas. Daigle Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is your partner for all your plumbing, heating, and cooling needs. Call us today at 603-434-6353 for a free estimate.
