The furnace in your home plays an essential role in keeping your home warm. However, if it's sweating, then it may raise some red flags. What could be wrong with your furnace if this is happening? We have done the research to help pinpoint the issue in this article.

If your furnace is sweating, then it could be due to the following:

• A dirty air filter
• High humidity in your home
• The furnace is old
• An overheated condenser
• A defective cooling unit
• Poor insulation
• An air leakage
• Kinked runoff condensation line

As you can see, there is a variety of reasons why your furnace is sweating. To troubleshoot the issue, it is essential to understand why these issues could be happening. In this article, we will take a closer look at each of these possible culprits. In addition, we will discuss how to stop condensation from forming on your furnace, so read on!

Furnace Is Sweating - What Could Be Wrong?

The furnace maintains the temperature of your home to keep you warm. There are several reasons it can be sweating, so let's take a look at them and offer some possible fixes:

Dirty Air Filter

A dirty air filter will prevent your furnace from doing its job at the highest capacity. Most furnaces use a fan to circulate warm air through your home, and if it is clogged with debris, it will be hard for this fan to do its job. This could cause the furnace not to work as well as it should, which you would notice first.

One way you can prevent this problem is by regularly cleaning or replacing your air filter. You should clean your air filter at least once every three months on average, but if pet dander particles are floating around in the air, then you will want to clean it more frequently than that.

An easy way to check if the filter is dirty is to hold it up to the light. If you can still see the light through it, then you should clean it. This could also indicate that your furnace's cooling unit may need replacement, but this doesn't happen often. You can ask a technician from your local HVAC company if they recommend replacing the cooling unit on your furnace.

High Humidity in Your Home

High humidity in your home can cause water to pool on surfaces, including on your furnace. If you notice condensation forming on areas such as the front panel of your unit, then there is a good chance that it is due to high humidity levels. If this problem persists, it could be time for you to call a technician for your furnace.

Furnace Is Too Old

If your furnace is too old, then that could be causing the heating unit to sweat more than it should. On average, furnaces should be replaced every 15-20 years, so if you are unsure how old yours is. You may want to have it checked.

If you notice this happening regularly, it may be time for you to replace the entire unit with newer technology and efficiency. But, again, you can consult an HVAC company to see if you need to replace it.

An Overheated Condenser

When the condenser is overheated, it can cause your furnace to sweat. Therefore, the condenser unit should be situated away from other heat sources, like the appliance room or where you currently do not use much.

If there are heat sources near this area, then it could cause an increase in temperature, which could lead to the condenser overheating. If this happens, the heating unit will work even harder to keep your home comfortable. This can cause it to sweat more than usual.

A Defective Cooling Unit

The cooling unit is the part of your furnace that regulates temperature. If this part has gone bad or stopped working, it could cause your furnace to overwork. This would lead to the heating unit sweating, which can cause problems if you don't immediately take care of it.

An Air Leakage

Air leakage is a problem that has been known to cause furnace sweating issues. If there are leaks in your home, warm air will escape, which will cause your furnace to work harder than it should. This could lead to the heating unit sweating, so this is something you need to watch out for in your home.

Poor Insulation

Furnaces need good insulation to work correctly, especially during the winter months. If your furnace has poor insulation, it may cause a build-up of condensation on its surface, which can cause damage to the unit over time.

Therefore, you want to have someone inspect your home's insulation level and make sure that the furnace has enough insulation to prevent issues like these from occurring.

If you notice your furnace sweating more than usual, then you likely need to take some action right away. If you don't, it can cause water damage in your home, leading to costly repairs later on. The best thing you can do is to contact a furnace repair service provider. They are trained to handle this type of problem and know exactly what they need to do to resolve the situation for you.

How Much Condensation is Normal for a Furnace?

It's normal for 90% high-efficiency furnaces to have condensation. The amount that runs off of these types of furnaces is harmless and usually nothing to worry about. However, if you have an older furnace, the efficiency can be significantly less, which can cause too much condensation.

If you notice your furnace sweating more than it should, then there are some steps you can take to find the cause of the problem. First, check your furnace filter and make sure that it is in good working order.

Having a dirty filter could prevent airflow, which will lead to sweating issues with your furnace.  If you know when this began happening, write down what was going on around the home and whether or not anything out of the ordinary was happening.

How Do I Stop Condensation on my Furnace?

If you are having more condensation than usual coming from your furnace, then take these steps:

1. Shut off the system!
2. Clean up the water quickly.
3. Check your furnace filter and make sure that it is clean and in good working order.  You should check this at least once a month during the colder months of the year to keep your system running smoothly.
4. Have an HVAC professional inspect your system to ensure that the furnace isn't overworking and causing sweating issues.

Why is there Water Around my Furnace?

If you have water around your furnace, it is more than likely from a condensation leak somewhere. Unfortunately, this is a common problem in some homes, especially if you have an older furnace or one that isn't very efficient.

If condensation leakages are causing too much water to collect on your floor, it could cause potential problems with the surface of the concrete.  This could lead to permanent damage over time, so you should call a professional to take care of this problem for you.

Can a Dirty Filter Cause Furnace to Leak Water?

Yes, a dirty filter can lead to the issue of too much condensation on your furnace. It will restrict airflow, which can cause a leak. Also, if your cooling system is connected, the air could freeze, and then when the air conditioning unit turns off, the water can drip into your furnace, causing issues. Clean or replace your filter often to prevent this from happening.

How Long do Furnaces Usually Last?

The average furnace is designed to last around 15 to 20 years. However, you can extend the life of yours by making sure that it remains well taken care of and properly maintained. If you take these steps, then there's a chance that your furnace could last longer than this amount of time.

Final Thoughts

Some condensation on a high-efficiency furnace is normal and shouldn't cause issues. However, if you have an older furnace, then more than likely, you will have a lot of sweating issues.  You can fix this problem by changing the filter to provide better airflow or having it cleaned professionally. In addition, if your furnace is over the 15-year mark and it has this issue, then it could be time to have it replaced.

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