High Efficiency Gas Furnace Condensate Drain Freezing

With the pipes blocked the condensate backed up into the furnaces where safety switches shut the units down.

High efficiency gas furnace condensate drain freezing.

A high efficiency condensate furnace can save you lots of money on your heating bills. Since the drain taps into the exhaust system leaving it open to the air would allow for a potential exhaust flue gas leak in the living space which is a big no no. If the condensate from a high efficiency furnace leaks out of the pvc pipes or if the pipes are not draining the condensate correctly you could experience damage to your home and you may not. A high efficiency condensing furnace is a little more complex than a conventional furnace and troubleshooting is somewhat more complicated since there are more potential problems.

These pipes direct condensation that collects during the heating process out of the heater and usually outdoors. The condensate trap is absolutely mandatory for a high efficiency gas furnace. The main difference between a conventional furnace and a condensing furnace is the heat exchanger technology used to extract heat from the combustion process and exhaust the combustion gases. Additionally the inducer motor would suck air through the drain if it weren t trapped which could.

In high efficiency furnaces the gas temperature is low enough that it can go through pvc which is good because the low temp gas produces lots of condensate which would corrode a metal pipe. However you need to make sure the system is operating properly.