Condensate Water From High Efficiency Furnace

All high efficiency furnaces create acidic water as a by product of the combustion process so it s best to install a condensate neutralizer before corrosion causes damage to your pipes septic system or sewer system.

Condensate water from high efficiency furnace.

Condensation from air conditioning coils contains bacteria that can form slime and clog the condensate pan drain tube. How to purchase and install a condensate neutralizer. You can capture that heat with a high efficiency condensing furnace. How a high efficiency condensing furnace differs.

Like a conventional furnace it takes in cold air from the house and runs it through an air filter. Most new residential and commercial heating and hot water systems include a furnace boiler or domestic water heater of the high efficiency condensing type. It moves the air with a circulating fan. Condensing appliances extract additional btus from the water vapor in the flue gas.

It uses a venting system to extract that heat before venting. In older homes a whole house trap might be buried in the floor and the main sewer line to the street is most likely cast iron even if modern pvc drains have been installed in the house. Condensate drains on the high efficiency condensing units were freezing where the drain pipes terminated outside the house. With the pipes blocked the condensate backed up into the furnaces where safety switches shut the units down.

When the flue gas drops below its dew point of approximately 135 degrees fahrenheit it starts to condense. Condensate from a high efficiency furnace typically has a ph of about 5 0 but can range from 3 5 to 6 5. While the condensing furnace is different in its design and repair needs it does have some similarities to a conventional furnace. Problems with the condensate pump.

And it has a gas burner with electronic ignition although condensing furnaces may have more electronic controls. This residual liquid is highly acidic. What is vented is a residual corrosive condensate of water and carbon dioxide. When you see water puddling around the furnace with the a c running you have a clogged condensate drain tube.

A clog or problem in the condensate system your high efficiency furnace has an entire system set up to drain away the condensation it produces. If the water sits in a trap and evaporates the acidity and corrosive effect will increase. A high efficiency condensing furnace can achieve efficiency ratings of 90 or above. You can prevent slime and eliminate drain tube clogs in two easy steps.