Metal and water are typically not a good combination because of the propensity for rust to develop. In situations where waterB and metal do have to come together, steps are taken to significantly reduce the chances that corrosion will develop. When it comes to your furnace, however, rust should never develop because a furnace doesnb t use water in any capacity. The presence of rust tells you that your furnace is being exposed to moisture that should not be there, and it is important to have your furnaceB repaired as soon as possible.
How It Gets There
So how exactly can rust start to develop on your furnace? There are a few culprits:
- Poor ventilation b when your furnace is generating heat, combustion byproducts are created, and some of these byproducts take the form of vapor. As the vapors travel up your flue, they cool and turn to water. If your ventilation isnb t installed properly, the condensation can linger on the metal and cause rust to form.
- Faulty ductwork b it is quite easy for excess moisture from the outdoors to enter your ductwork through the faults (holes and cracks) in faulty ductwork. Once the moisture is in your ductwork, it can fall back toward your furnace, where it will pool and cause rust.
- Leaking from AC evaporator coils b many homeowners have a combination furnace/air conditioning HVAC system in which the evaporator components the air conditioning system sit on top of the furnace. If the evaporator is draining improperly, the water can fall directly into the furnace, which will eventually lead to the development of rust.
The bottom line is that rust on a furnace is not normal and is indicative of a root problem. Let the heating professionals from Comfort Central, Inc., remedy the problem of a rusty furnace in your Arden, NC home!