Furnace Pvc Exhaust Pipe Leaking

If your furnace exhaust pipe or flue pipe is leaking it can be a sign of a much bigger problem.

Furnace pvc exhaust pipe leaking.

As the gases sit in the flue they cool eventually forming condensation which can leak out of your furnace into the surrounding area. However if your exhaust pipe is too big or it has no slope it allows too much air to circulate and traps the gases in the flue. Here s what to look for. If you have a condensing furnace it s likely leaking due to any of the following issues.

If you have a conventional furnace the two most likely reasons for dripping water include. Look at your flue pipe. A standard efficiency furnace extracts some heat from the combustion gases and quickly vents them out the exhaust or flue pipe. To see if the issue is the vent pipe follow these steps.

When you see water puddling around the furnace with the a c running you have a clogged condensate drain tube. Today i noticed water leaking from a section of the pvc exhaust pipe which travels upward from the furnace across the ceiling and out of basement wall where it vents into my backyard. A clog or issue in the condensate system. You can prevent slime and eliminate drain tube clogs in two easy steps.

A condensate pumplooks like a small white box connected to the pvc drain pipe on your furnace. If there is an issue with the condensation pump you will usually be able to see water dripping from the pump. A bad heat exchanger. Condensation from air conditioning coils contains bacteria that can form slime and clog the condensate pan drain tube.

If he or she rules out a condensation leak there are other possibilities all still requiring a professional. Bad clogged condensate pump. Despite the confusion the safe practice would suggest the use of pvc schedule 40 pipes for the air intake vent on the furnace and cpvc for the exhaust flue vent given its higher service temperature. To be more specific the pipe that comes out of the unit is attached to this leaking section which is attached to a pvc elbow then another piece of pipe and so on.

The fix have a professional replaceyour condensate pump. A poorly sized flue pipe. Its job is to pump water toward the drain. That way should there be a problem with the furnace that causes the exhaust temperature to exceed design the exhaust vent system has almost 40 more capacity to handle the excess heat before it reaches the point where it can fail.

You need to call in a professional to assess what s going on.