Why Is Water Leaking From Furnace Units In Cocoa Beach?

With Cocoa Beach being part of a coastal state, it’s no wonder that out of the city’s total 15.19 square miles, a whopping 10.53 of it is, technically, all water. The remaining 4.66 square miles comprise beaches and coastlines right off the oceans, rivers, and lakes. You can’t get away from the surf, so moisture entering your home might not be so strange here – unless you see that water leaking from furnace components!

For over 30 years, we’ve been the #1 HVAC company in this and surrounding areas. Keep reading to learn more about heater leaks and how professionals like Altman’s Cooling & Heating remedy them with furnace repair services in Cocoa Beach, FL. 

Condensate Hose Draining Issues 

Furnaces pull cooler household air into the heat exchanger while natural gas, or another type of fuel, ignites in the combustion chamber. The latter creates hot gases that pass into the heat exchanger, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Once they release their heat, the cooler air in this compartment absorbs it before the air re-enters your home via air ducts and vents.

These now-cooler gases exit your home through a flue pipe. However, condensation may be left behind due to the rising and falling temperatures of the gases. These water vapors collect and are meant to go into the condensate drain line connected to the exhaust pipe, but with debris causing a clog, water backs up and pools into a leak.

A Cocoa Beach heating and cooling specialist will carefully clean a clogged condensate trap by vacuuming it or pulling debris out with a wire. If there’s still water leaking from furnace surfaces, they’ll:

• Flush the line with hot water and vinegar to remove residue.
• Examine the line for cracks, holes, or loose connections.
• Check for a faulty condensate pump if it’s not removing water after a certain level.

Clogs in Your Cocoa Beach Air Conditioner 

It’s not just a clog in your furnace drain line that can cause the furnace to leak. An air conditioner drain clog occurs for similar reasons as fungal growth, dust, and debris lodge and affect water disposal. Since the cooling unit’s condensate drain line and furnace hose line attach to the same drain pan, water rushing from both units causes overflows. 

When using your air conditioner, does your idle Cocoa Beach furnace leak? The water overflowing from the above-mentioned pan could have entered the furnace section of your system and started to leak out. Water leaking from furnaces can cause electrical issues, water damage, and constant shutdowns once the furnace is back in use, so it’s important to call for professional repairs right away. 

During an inspection, an HVAC technician examines the pan for cracks or holes and patches it if there is too much water coming from the drain lines for the pan to hold. They might also install a second pan under the primary one to catch the excess. From there, they’ll conduct traditional maintenance by sanitizing the pan, clearing lines, and emptying pooled water. 

Heat Exchanger Cracks or Holes

Now that you understand water leak issues that arise from poor drain lines and pans, what about the heat exchanger? This exchanger is where your cool household air warms up, thanks to the heat from the hot gases. This heating process leads to some evaporation, which, once the hot air releases and the chamber cools, turns into condensation. 

Your Cocoa Beach furnace’s heat exchanger is a metal shield that expands and contracts with changing temperatures and can corrode due to regular contact with water. It is prone to wear with excessive usage or environmental factors. 

Has the heat exchanger developed a crack? Not only will you see water leaking from furnaces with cracks or holes, but you’ll also suffer exposure to some dangerous carbon monoxide gas. You should contact a professional immediately to keep your home and family safe. 

Carbon monoxide and leaks are dangerous furnace issues. Experts prefer to replace the entire heat exchanger to ensure it’s up to scratch and able to hold up to your heating or cooling demands.