Why Does the Furnace Leaking Water When Ac Is On? Reasons
water damage is one of the most common housing mishaps. Everyone has experienced it.
It’s always best to address a situation before it becomes a problem. Homeowners must always pay attention to a furnace leak because it may result in future, more expensive repairs. This article discusses the reasons for furnace leaking water when ac is on and solutions.
How an Ac Is Linked to a Furnace for Running?
Your furnace and air conditioner are components of the HVAC, a bigger and more complicated system. This system controls your home’s temperature and air quality.
Your HVAC system’s interconnected units depend on one another for proper operation. It is crucial to understand how the entire system operates to detect furnace leaks connected to AC and decide whether troubleshooting is sufficient or whether you should hire an HVAC professional.
To comprehend how the furnace & AC are connected, keep reading for important HVAC-related details:
- The exact ductwork that delivers warm air from your furnace in the winter and cool air from your air conditioner in the summer is part of your home’s HVAC system.
- Through the same condensate drain line, the furnace & air conditioner exhaust the moisture created while the cooling & heating procedures.
- The thermostat controls both the furnace & the air conditioner. Heating and cooling both turn on the furnace. The incorrect setting will affect the heating & cooling systems during the unsuitable season.
- Both the heating & cooling systems in your HVAC system utilise air filters. Both circulate air via the filter to remove dust and debris; in any of the case, the filter is blocked, the quality of air is impaired, and you consume less air.
- As part of its function, an AC dehumidifies the air, so it doesn’t need the humidifier connected to furnace. It is best to turn off the humidifier in your furnace during the summer season because doing so will delay the dehumidification procedures. .
- You can understand why leakage may influence the other because the AC and furnace are connected.
Furnace Leaking Water When Ac Is On: 5 Top Reasons
It’s unpleasant to have a leaky furnace, particularly if you need to know why. Here are a few possible reasons for water leaking from ac furnace when the air conditioner is running. If you have a question; why is my air conditioner furnace leaking water, then this guide is for you. Let’s explore what causes a furnace to leak water?
1. An Nonfunctional Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is one HVAC system component that cools the air. The coils allow for cooling by absorbing heat and moisture as the air flows over them. The evaporator coil compresses the moisture in the air, which then gathers on the drain pan and is discharged through the drain pipe.
Excessive condensation may result from a defective evaporator coil. More water will evaporate in this situation onto the condensate pan. Water will undoubtedly leak from the furnace if the drain pan or pipe is damaged, whether it’s a split in the pan or an obstruction in the pipe. Call an HVAC expert to help you if this is the situation.
2. A Damaged Humidifier
The leak may come from an interior furnace part, particularly a humidifier. The humidifier that comes with most furnaces adds moisture to the hot air that the furnace produces.
Suppose something goes wrong with the humidifier, and water leaks and spills onto the floor. Make sure your furnace receives regular maintenance to avoid this. A professional can easily detect a broken humidifier before it worsens.
However, if you don’t do routine maintenance on your furnace, water leakage from the furnace could seriously harm the internal system. It might also harm the house’s walls and floor. Ultimately, it can lead to mould growth, which puts your home in danger.
3. A Blocked Drain
Your HVAC system typically experiences condensation. The air conditioner typically draws moisture from the air during the cooling process, which condenses on the condensate pan and is then emptied from the system through the drain pipe.
When water cannot efficiently drain, a problem arises. The water drainage may suffer if the drain is clogged with dirt, mould, or debris. When the AC is on, these materials cause your furnace to leak water because they clog the drain and make it ineffective.
If this is the case, water will spill over the drain pan, and when the AC runs, you’ll see water under the furnace. The best action in this situation is to hire an HVAC repair company to unclog the drain and restore normal water flow.
Some service providers can add a safety feature that will turn the appliance off automatically if a new clog forms in the drain. You should turn off the system when there is a blockage to prevent it from getting severe.
4. Dust in the Filter of Air
The HVAC system’s air filter works with the heating & cooling units to create airflow. The furnace’s air filter won’t be able to clean the air entering the system if it is clogged. The dirt also prevents the unit’s evaporator coil from receiving air and power.
The evaporator coil may freeze if there is insufficient power or airflow to the coils, which might result in a drop in temperature. This could therefore damage the coil or additional parts of your HVAC system.
The quantity of water drained down the drain pipe also increases when the ice melts. Additionally, in any of the case, the water does not drain completely, it may overflow into the furnace, which may leak water.
5. Blocked Condensate Pump
Let’s assume your HVAC system is one of the designs that include a condensate pump, which helps to pump the condensate from your system outdoors. This is frequent in homes with basements.
In this situation, clogged, blocked, or not working properly, a condensate pump may cause water leakage. When the AC works, the clogging may cause water to appear under the furnace. In such cases, you should check the drain hose and the drain pan to ensure they are unbroken.
The condensate pump is the next most likely suspect if the drain pan doesn’t appear to be the problem’s root cause. Changing or fixing your condensate pump is the easiest way to solve this issue.
Tips for Correcting Ac-related Furnace Leakage
It will be complex to determine which of the AC problems is responsible for an apparent leakage from the furnace.
To identify the reason of the leakage before obtaining professional assistance, you must evaluate your HVAC mechanism for the abovementioned problems. Then you may determine if you can solve the issue on your own or require to consult a professional.
Use these five steps to identify and repair a furnace that leaks water when the air conditioner is on.
Switch off the Ac & Dry the Water from the Leakage
Although it’s never a good idea to try to open or touch an electrical appliance’s part during the power is enable, this is a safety precaution. Please disable the switch that controls the system’s circuit breaker since the problems we’re addressing have the potential to impact the entire HVAC system.
Wipe the floor and all other damp surfaces dry as well. You will sustain irreparable harm in any situation, the water comes into your floors.
Check for Cracks and Blockages in the Condensate Drain Line
A blocked condensate drain is the frequent reason for HVAC system leaks. Fortunately, it’s also the simplest to fix. Start by examining the drain line attached to the drain pan for blockages. Remove any debris that is obstructing the waterway. You’re good to go if it solves the problem.
If not, check the drain line that transports water from your house outside. Search for any dirt or other barriers to the tube or pipe. Furthermore, clear out the dirt inside the pipe using a best wire or a plumber’s snake. To remove any remaining filth in the drain line, wash the pipe with warm water & a small amount of dish soap under the drain. Check the condensate drain pipe for cracks or damaged joints. After cleaning the drain, in any of the case, the leak is remain there, look for the further likely reason.
Verify the Functionality of the Condensate Pump
Check to see, in any of the case, the condensate pump is functioning and in any situation, your HVAC condensate drain is clear & the leak persists. You need to clean the drain pipe if the pump is operating but no water appears to going up. The pump motor or microswitch may have failed if it doesn’t working yet. In that situation, before replacing the condensate pump, ask a professional to confirm that it is broken.
Examine the Air’ Filter
Every month, you should check the air’s filter in your heating & cooling system to ensure it’s clean and working properly. You can clean it and reinstall it if it is unclean but lesser than three months old & in great condition. However, replace it if it is older than three months or continuously picks up dust from the surroundings. A dusty filter that doesn’t deliver enough air to the coil results in a frozen evaporator coil. After wipe the filter, you’re ready! Or in any case, the leak is fixed.
Bottom Line
The HVAC is a network of connected components. Accordingly, problems with your AC can impacted on your furnace. Your furnace can appear to leak if your AC isn’t properly getting rid of the water released by the cooling procedures. Most of these problems are self-solvable. However, if you need help solving the problem of furnace leaking water when ac is on and are still trying to figure out what to do, contact an expert as soon as possible if your furnace looks to leak and you are unsure of what to do.
