First off, we want to make sure that a call out of one of our engineers for a potential furnace water leak is necessary. No, this is not because we don’t want you to waste our time but, more important, we don’t want you to waste your money on an unnecessary visit. Finding water near or underneath your furnace may well lead you to believe it is leaking, but first, let’s do a quick check to rule out any other sources of the water.

However, before you do any investigating, switch off your furnace and mop up any water as water and electricity don’t mix! Any water leak adjacent to any electrical appliance can be dangerous and though you may have a gas-fired furnace, it still requires a source of electricity to operate.

First, are there any other appliances that use water located nearby? Is your furnace located in the same room as your washing machine? Have you got a dryer that vents to the outside? Have you got an air conditioning unit in the same room? Have you got a refrigerator or freezer in the same room? All these household units can and do leak water from time to time, these leaks invariably coming from a blocked or damaged pipe or hose that can easily be replaced for a few dollars. Just double-check around these units first.

Then, check any other pipework around your furnace that transports water. It could be water pipes or drainage pipes, all a possible source of a water leak. Then, check to make sure that there is no way water could be coming in from outside, via a door, window or the roof or ceiling.

Finally, check what type of furnace you have as low-efficiency furnaces don’t involve the use of water, in any form. Only high-efficiency furnaces which utilize water condensation have the potential to develop a water leak.

So, if there is no sign of any other appliance leaking, and you have confirmed you have a high-efficiency boiler, let’s look at what might now be the cause of your leak. If you are not sure what type of boiler you have, just give us a call here at A&E Air Conditioning and Heating, tell us the make and model number of your furnace, and we should be able to tell you what type it is.

The most likely cause is a blocked or clogged condensation pump. Most pumps are designed to function for about five years, after which they usually need to be replaced. The other source of a leak could be a faulty valve or a leaking pipe.

While a water leak may have you worrying about a costly repair, don’t panic and don’t let that stop you from calling us out. The sooner the problem is dealt with, the less costly any repair is likely to be. All our qualified HVAC engineers are highly experienced and will gladly show you exactly what is wrong so that you have a clear understanding of why an element requires replacing or fixing. If any work is required, we will always provide you with a fixed quote and you are under no commitment to have any work done. We are here to advise what should be done, not demand you allow us to do anything!

If you have any concerns about your home heating system, it does no harm to have it checked over, we may be able to spot a potential problem before it actually becomes one. Give us a call here at A&E and we’ll be happy to help in any way we can.