What Should You Know and Do if Your Furnace Is Leaking Water?

With HVAC units lasting around 15 years, you want to do everything you can to stay on top of maintenance. But if you notice a sudden change in your HVAC system’s behavior, you’ll need to take action quickly. You don’t want what seems like a minor issue to snowball into a big problem.

Read on to learn what you should do if your furnace is leaking water!

Turn Off Your System

Your first step when you notice furnace issues should be to turn off the system. How you do this may hinge on the type of furnace you have. In some cases, the process is as simple as turning off the heat at your thermostat.

If you have a system with a pilot light, turning off the system entails turning off the gas supply. This will then turn off the pilot light.

You may need to go to your breaker box to turn off the furnace. Find the switch that corresponds to the breaker and turn it off. 

Start Cleaning

Next, focus on cleaning up the water. If you neglect this critical step, the water can cause damage to everything around it.

Remove any objects that are in the path of the leaking water. And grab a mop, towels, and a bucket to start removing water. 

Additionally, wet areas can lead to mold. Mold can ruin your furniture and flooring, and it can pose a health risk. Mold spores can trigger coughing, sneezing, and other forms of respiratory irritation. 

Depending on how extensive the leak is, you may need to use a wet-dry vacuum. And you’ll want to use strong fans that can help to dry out the area. Do this step thoroughly before you put anything back. 

Evaluate Your Filter

Once you’ve contained the water, you’ll want to turn your attention to the furnace filter. Your filter collects dust and debris from the air to keep the blower fan in a home furnace functioning as it should.

You’ll want to make sure the filter has not been compromised when you’re dealing with furnace problems. Your filter could be the cause of the leak, too. Check to see if it still is clean. 

As a part of preventative maintenance, you’ll want to replace your filter regularly anyway. Use this experience as a reminder to do so at least every three months!

Call the Professionals

Finally, reach out to an HVAC service to handle the leak diagnosis and repairs. Fixing a furnace is something that should be done only by professionals with the right training.

You risk carbon monoxide exposure and other catastrophic problems if you try to attempt a repair yourself. A qualified technician will be able to make the repair safely. You may be dealing with a condensation or humidifier leak, or your filter could be clogged.

Take Action If Your Furnace Is Leaking Water

If your furnace is leaking water, call the professionals for help. Turn off your system first. Then start removing the water to prevent damage and mold. 

Reach out to J & M Smith Heating & Air for all of your furnace issues!