Water and electricity don’t go well together. A Bryant furnace leaking water is a dangerous electrical hazard, which is why you should take action as soon as possible. So, why is your Bryant furnace leaking water, and how can you fix that?
Your Bryant furnace is leaking water because of a clogged air filter or condensation drain, problems with the flue line, or a faulty humidifier. You can fix the problem by cleaning the air filter and condensation drain, ensuring the flue line isn’t blocked, and inspecting the humidifier.
Let’s go over all the different causes behind a Bryant furnace leaking water. This post will also explain what steps you need to take to fix each issue to prevent water and electricity from coming into contact.
Clogged Air Filter
The most common reason Bryant furnaces leak water is related to condensation. As heated air is pushed through the furnace and ductwork, the furnace dries out quite a bit of moisture from the air.
The condensation is pulled into the condensate line and pushed to the drain. Sometimes, condensation collects in a spot where the condensate lines can’t reach.
This usually happens when the air filter is clogged. Hot air first goes through the filter before it’s distributed throughout your home. The filter removes any impurities, such as dust and other particles, before the air enters the ducts.
When the filter is clogged, hot air builds up in the furnace. This can create condensation within the furnace. You might hear a sizzling sound coming from the main compartment when this happens.
How To Fix
A Bryant furnace leaking water due to a clogged filter is an easy fix. You need to open up the furnace to get to the filter. You’ll find the filter located close to the blower fan. Here’s how to do it:
- Shut off your furnace.
- Remove the filter from the furnace. You need to get it out to clean the filter thoroughly.
- Run the filter under a tap. Ensure there are no particles left on the filter once done.
- Inspect the filter to see if it’s damaged. If it still seems to be in good condition, place the filter back into the furnace after cleaning it. If not, replace it.
Here’s a video tutorial that’ll help you clean your furnace filter:
Clogged Condensation Drain
All condensation eventually returns to its liquid form. All liquids should end up in the condensate assembly. This assembly consists of a condensate line, pump, and drain. The drain is sometimes referred to as the condensate trap.
Condensate is pumped into the condensate line to ensure the liquids are pushed out of your home to prevent water from building up inside your furnace.
When the condensate line or drain becomes blocked, the condensate can’t escape the system. The liquids cannot move to the drain, so they collect inside the ducts and furnace. When this happens, you may see water dripping out of the furnace, vents, and ducts.
How To Fix
You need to inspect the condensate assembly to determine if a clog is causing the water leak. You should see a few PVC pipes coming out of the main compartment. These pipes form the condensate line. They connect to the outer part of the furnace setup. Here’s what you have to do:
- Turn the furnace off. You don’t want to disassemble any part of the furnace while it’s still running.
- Look at the pipes and see if you can find any loose connections. Water can drip from there.
- If there are no leaks, try disconnecting a few lines and check for clogging. When the leak isn’t directly at the PVC pipes but rather a different part of the furnace, there’s a good chance that the system is clogged.
- If you find a clog, use a pressure washer to drain the PVC pipes. Make sure the clog is gone by using a brush to remove dirt and debris left behind.
You can watch the video below if you need help cleaning the condensate lines:
Problems With the Flue Line
The flue line is another set of pipes that run from the combustion chamber and expel moisture from the furnace. The flue line has a very important function — it removes combustion gases from the furnace. If the gases aren’t removed effectively, they might mix with the hot air that goes into your home.
Combustion gases entering your home can lead to serious health problems. It can affect you and your entire family.
If the flue line is blocked or clogged, the combustion gases will accumulate inside the furnace. When this happens, the gases may lead to condensation inside the furnace, where it can’t be drained effectively.
How To Fix
A leaking flue line isn’t something that you want to ignore, as your goal here is not only to stop the leak but also to prevent combustion gases from being pushed into your house.
Check the flue line for blockages. You can do this by removing a pipe or two and seeing if anything is clogging it up. Also, make sure there’s no blockage at the end of the flue line.
Faulty Humidifier
When you see water leaking from the furnace, your first thought might be that it’s related to issues with the system itself. However, you should consider other factors too. There’s a chance that the water leak isn’t coming directly from the furnace but rather a third-party system attached to your HVAC.
So, maybe the humidifier is causing the problem. The humidifier adds moisture to the hot, dry air coming from your furnace to make it more comfortable to breathe. If the humidifier isn’t working as intended, you’ll see a puddle of water underneath your Bryant furnace.
How To Fix
Determining whether the humidifier is leaking isn’t as easy as it might seem at first glance.
First, check if the humidifier is connected to the furnace directly. If this is the case, take a closer look at the humidifier while inspecting the furnace.
Summary
A clog in the air filter, flue line, or condensation drain can cause water to start leaking from the furnace. In some cases, the water leak may also come from another part of the HVAC system, such as the humidifier.
A Bryant furnace leaking water is a call for concern because the water can come into contact with electrical components. For this reason, you need to address the issue quickly or contact an HVAC technician.
Vincent is a freelance writer based in Santa Ana, California. When he isn’t writing articles for Temperature Master, he can be found biking or hanging out with his cat, Shelly.