Air Conditioning - Help, where to start...need a little direction
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Kathyhas?s
07-25-06, 08:35 AM
Hello,
I have water in my basement where the furnace is. I have central air and think this is the cause because whenever I run the air conditioner, there's a leak. I have a new sump pump, extensive basement work (drain tiles and steel beams except for that little piece of wall where the air conditioner rests outside and the furnace/fireplace wall on the inside). My home is pretty well maintained (to the best of my knowledge) but I'm at the mercy of those who maintain it. Recently divorced, I do not want to ask my ex for help!
My question....where do I start first? Call my plumber? Call the heating and air condidtioning expert? Is there anything I can do to rememdy this? Let me note that I did find a tube disconnected. I believe it's a condensation type of tube. I attached it back to this little box on the bottom of the furnace. I dont' know if the little box is part of the furnace or attached to it.
2nd question....my water leak caused a flood in part of the basement (on the carpet I JUST had cleaned in April!). Can an airconditioner problem cause so much water?
I live in WI and it's been hot, muggy, and rainy, thus my reason for thinking I have more than one leakage problem.
Thanks for any advice given!
Kathy
I have water in my basement where the furnace is. I have central air and think this is the cause because whenever I run the air conditioner, there's a leak. I have a new sump pump, extensive basement work (drain tiles and steel beams except for that little piece of wall where the air conditioner rests outside and the furnace/fireplace wall on the inside). My home is pretty well maintained (to the best of my knowledge) but I'm at the mercy of those who maintain it. Recently divorced, I do not want to ask my ex for help!
My question....where do I start first? Call my plumber? Call the heating and air condidtioning expert? Is there anything I can do to rememdy this? Let me note that I did find a tube disconnected. I believe it's a condensation type of tube. I attached it back to this little box on the bottom of the furnace. I dont' know if the little box is part of the furnace or attached to it.
2nd question....my water leak caused a flood in part of the basement (on the carpet I JUST had cleaned in April!). Can an airconditioner problem cause so much water?
I live in WI and it's been hot, muggy, and rainy, thus my reason for thinking I have more than one leakage problem.
Thanks for any advice given!
Kathy
mdtaylor
07-25-06, 08:52 AM
Yes, an A/C can cause a lot of condensation to drain. And if your drain is clogged then the water will end up on the floor beneath your 'furnace.'
On the furnace find one or two small, probably plastic, pipes about 3/4 inch and follow them. Sometimes they go to a drain, but most of the time they go through the wall to the outside. On the outside they just stop and drip outside, normally. Yours probably are not dripping and are clogged. Use a shop vac and suck them out.
If they are piped into a drain then you will have to cut them to suck them out. But, they should no longer be piped into a drain. You may want to hire an a/c company or handiman to re-route the drain lines to the outside.
If you cannot find them, can you take pictures of the furnace? (Not the A/c outside.)
On the furnace find one or two small, probably plastic, pipes about 3/4 inch and follow them. Sometimes they go to a drain, but most of the time they go through the wall to the outside. On the outside they just stop and drip outside, normally. Yours probably are not dripping and are clogged. Use a shop vac and suck them out.
If they are piped into a drain then you will have to cut them to suck them out. But, they should no longer be piped into a drain. You may want to hire an a/c company or handiman to re-route the drain lines to the outside.
If you cannot find them, can you take pictures of the furnace? (Not the A/c outside.)
Ed Imeduc
07-25-06, 09:18 AM
Also have you checked the air filter there in the furnace. this has to be clean and when the furnace or AC run a new filter every 30 days. This helps. A dirty filter can cause the water leaks on the floor to.
ED;)
ED;)
Kathyhas?s
07-26-06, 08:59 PM
Thank you Ed and mdtaylor...
I got some gunk out of the indoor line but the water still appeared. I'll check the outdoors, since I did not do that. I'm relieved the problem isn't the flashing around the fireplace.
I can take a picture of the furnace....where do I send it, though?
:D
I got some gunk out of the indoor line but the water still appeared. I'll check the outdoors, since I did not do that. I'm relieved the problem isn't the flashing around the fireplace.
I can take a picture of the furnace....where do I send it, though?
:D