water on the utility RM floor: I need to find why?

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cmrhm

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Hi, I just found out my utility room floor have some water. I need to find out the reason of it quick.

This room is a small room within my garage and is located on the 1st floor. My house is 3 story townhouse.

Inside it, there is HVAC system and heater. I noticed There is a free standing pipe hang from the ceiling. It didn't connected to anything in the bottom, I really don't know what it is for. I am not sure if this pipe is used to drain the water from somewhere to the floor drain on the floor.

Anyone can guess the reason for the water? Your help is highly appreciated.

:confused:
 
It's hart to say without seeing what's there. The water could have come from a condensate drip, or perhaps the T&P from your water heater tripped...
 
After sponging up I use layers of newspaper spread out on the floor.
They should show a spot somewhere that grows if you have a continuing leak.

It may also be coming through the concrete. You tape a plastic sheet down for 24 hours in the suspect location. This permeability test is on the Web.
 
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Do you have a boiler or furnace? Where is your water heater? Do you have an expansion tank? If so, knock on it to see if it is primarily full of air or water. If water, it probably needs to be replaced.
 
Thank you, guys. Here are some pictures. the heater is on the right side of the room, there is no water leak mark around heater area. So heater is not the problem. I also installed a humidifier, will it cuase the problem?

One more information, I didn't have this problem before. Last July, we hired a firm did a furnace cleaning. (That is a very bad firm according to angieslists.com. but my wife didn't know it). Will they somehow damage some piping/fitting connections? Just a thought...

leak_1.jpg

leak_2.jpg

photo.jpg

photo%25282%2529.jpg
 
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So many possibilities! I'd first look at the water supply to the humidifier. Also, if its drain line got bumped, or the overflow got clogged with dirt or something, that could leak. The furnace is a high-efficiency design (otherwise it couldn't use pvc for the combustion and exhaust air). There's also a drain for the exhaust and it could be a problem. I'd take some covers off and see if there's anything wet inside the furnace. Take the cover off the humidifer, and see if there's anything suspect.
 
It looks like the humidifier is sharing the drain line for the evaporator coil. If the drain line is plugged or pitched wrong, the water could be backing up and overflowing the evaporator coil pan. The water supply line for the humidifier could also be leaking.
 
There is no way we can answer your question without being there and doing our own tests about the leak and where it could be coming from. The "strange" pipe could be from a floor drain under the washing machine, for example, but from here we cannot tell what it really is.
 
Somehere, not shown in the picture, is a secondary drain from the evaporator coil. It is at a level just slightly above the drain in the picture. The secondary will just drain into the open area..it is supposed to be VERY noticable so the furnace is not damaged by the overflow
 
jimbo:
Thank you. Yes, I noticed a very low drain around 6" above the floor. I will take a picture tomorrow then post here. You think this might cause the water?

Other friends:
i will post the suspended pipe picture in detail tomorrow too. I want to get a clear idea before I do any further steps.

Thank you all for all your help!
 
You are grasping at straws. WE can THINK anything we want, but that is NOT going to tell you what, if anything, is leaking. ONLY someone inside that room, tracking the source of the water can do that. Your "further steps" have to be to either track the water down yourself, or hire an expert to do it.
 
jimbo said:
Somehere, not shown in the picture, is a secondary drain from the evaporator coil. It is at a level just slightly above the drain in the picture. The secondary will just drain into the open area..it is supposed to be VERY noticable so the furnace is not damaged by the overflow
Click to expand...
Here is the picture.

My building is 16 years old. My furnace might be as old as the house It is NUGM series condensiing gas furnace. DC90 ULTRa high efficiency.

Thanks for the help.

pipe_condensingGasFurnace01.jpg
 
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Short pipe #2 is the condensate line from your furnace. It should be inserted into short pipe #1.
 
DaveHo said:
Short pipe #2 is the condensate line from your furnace. It should be inserted into short pipe #1.
Click to expand...

I agree.
When your furnace runs, it produces condensation which should be coming out of pipe #2. This is normal.

This condensate line (pipe #2) should be a flexible piece of plastic tubing, and it should be going into the drain (pipe #1).

It would be a good idea to flush out the drain (#1) on occasion to make sure it does not become restricted.
 
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