What Is the Connection Between Plumbing and HVAC?

The connection between plumbing and your HVAC system may not seem obvious at first. Though your household pipes don’t generate heating or cooling, your HVAC components do produce water — sometimes a lot of it — that requires plumbing to drain it all away properly. 

Two parts of the cooling and/or heating system need plumbing connections to convey water out of the house:

• Central AC. Humidity reduction is an essential part of the cooling process in a central air conditioner. The indoor evaporator coil in the AC can condense many gallons of condensate water every day during operation in hot, humid summer conditions. This condensate drips down into a collection pan beneath the indoor air handler, then flows through a pipe connected to the household drain system.

• High-efficiency furnace. Unlike standard-efficiency furnaces, high-efficiency models incorporate a secondary heat exchanger that extracts extra heat by condensing water vapor that's present in the furnace exhaust airflow. This water collects in a plastic reservoir, then is taken by gravity through a sloped drain tube and is discharged outside the house.

What Can Go Wrong?

A clogged central AC drain pipe, often a result of algae or mold growth inside the condensate collection pan, will rapidly overflow every time the air conditioner cycles on. Because the location of the pan is beneath the air handler, occupants of the house may not notice the ongoing overflow before substantial water damage to the floor and adjoining area has occurred.

A high-efficiency furnace has a safety sensor that detects clogs in the water drain tube. If drainage stops, the sensor will automatically shut down the unit. Heating function cannot be restarted until the clog issue is resolved by an HVAC service technician. 

Prevention Is Preferable

Annual preventative maintenance by a qualified HVAC contractor includes addressing plumbing issues that may affect heating and cooling systems. The service includes an inspection and cleaning to support proper function of both the AC condensate pan and drain pipe, as well as the high-efficiency furnace drain system.

For professional service to prevent or repair plumbing issues associated with your HVAC system, contact Air Assurance.

Tips for Tracing & Fixing Water Leaks in Your Broken Arrow Home

Fixing water leaks means finding them first. Both tasks tend to be a job for a professional plumber with the experience to know where to look and the expertise to repair the leak. However, the average homeowner can expedite the process of fixing water leaks by noting patterns of leakage that may help narrow down the cause.  Here are some common signs of leakage to look for.

Tub and Shower LeakageSigns of water escaping the tub/shower enclosure include:

• Floor material or tiles loosening

• Peeling paint and/or spots of mold or mildew

• Water stains on ceilings below

Deteriorated caulking around the enclosure frame and degraded rubber door seals and gaskets are items that may be replaced by a plumber.

Under-Sink Leaks

Evidence of water damage under sinks may originate from one of three locations:

• Rim leaks: If the rim surrounding the sink is caulked, caulking must be renewed. The plumber can also tighten sink mounting clips to pull the sink against the countertop for a better seal.

• Supply line leaks: The water line connection at the shut-off valve or the faucet may leak under pressure. A plumber will tighten the compression nut. If leakage persists, he’ll shut off the water, disassemble and coat the connection with Teflon joint sealant, then reassemble.

• Drain pipe leaks: Connections between the drain pipe and u-shaped sink trap are often seepage sites. Where tightening the slip joint connection isn’t effective, the plumber may install a new drain pipe and/or trap and seal threads with Teflon tape.

Leaky Toilet Flange

Leakage can occur at the joint between the toilet and the drain pipe installed in the floor. While minimal seepage may enter the bathroom, leakage at this joint in an upper level will stain the ceiling below. Otherwise, the first evidence may be deterioration of the wooden floor structure beneath the toilet.Removal of the toilet by a professional plumber, replacement of damaged structural components and renewal of the wax seal ring are required to resolve leakage.

Leave finding and fixing water leaks to the professionals. In greater Tulsa, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Steve-Cukrov/Shutterstock”