Technical > Home Improvement > New Furnace/humidifier water going into sub pump

New Furnace/humidifier water going into sub pump

There may be a little water that goes to the sump pump occasionally from a humidifier, but there is certainly shouldn't be a significant amount. You would probably be best to shut off the water supply until you can get the installer to check the installation.

reply to SuperNet9
When some whole house humidifiers run, water flows the entire time they are on. This is usually done to prevent stagnation and mold growth. Excess water goes to a sump/drain. Maybe yours needs to be adjusted.
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reply to SuperNet9
You mean you already had a new system installed? Sound like the installer screwed up ...

»How does this price quote look for heat/ac

reply to SuperNet9

reply to SuperNet9
A 6K system and they screwed you out of doing it right for 38 bucks ?

Hopefully the new system wasn't installed by the clowns that wanted to keep changing the control board in the old system ..

»www.amazon.com/KT-15-1UL-Hartell···sxp_f_pt

reply to pike

reply to SuperNet9
There is totally no problem dumping AC condenser or dehumidifier water into the sump pit. The drain from a condensing furnace combustion products could be a different story without that water being diluted by other water or having the acid neutralized somehow.

reply to pike
The use of a separate condensate pump is only warranted if there is no convenient place to drain the condensate in the vicinity of the source of condensate. If there is a drain right next to the furnace, and routing the effluent to that drain does not create a tripping hazard, it is perfectly acceptable to let the effluent run into the drain. Condensate pumps are typically used when the drain is located in another part of the area, and it is necessary to pump the effluent up and overhead across the area; i.e., to a wash basin or drain on the other side of the room.
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reply to pike
Installing A condensate pump is certainly not required and a bad idea is not required. It just is another item to be maintained that provides no benefit.

And failure results in condensate spillage with possible damage.

There is nothing wrong with dumping into a sump pit. But if the occasional running of the sump is annoying, contact the installer and ask about other options. Of course if you have been otherwise happy with the job and service, be polite in the request. Honey, vinegar, and all that stuff.

We have a customer with four large air handlers above a ceiling. They pump the AC coil condensate from them. I took a service call there one time for a water leak. Arrived to find a 5' area of ceiling caved in from the water, and water damage to office funiture below that. The pump motor had somehow come unplugged. No one ever did come up with and answer as to how or why. The location does not allow for gravity draining, so the pumps are a must. It is an old factory building that was converted to office space, and the HVAC equipment was placed wherever they could find a place for it.

reply to SuperNet9
The code where I live is the condensate pump "has" to route into the sump.
I used a reputable plumber and this was instated due to no previous code as to installers just "popping a hole to outside or routing into sewer drain/washsink.
I have that "aprilaire" free humdifier perk when new furnace was installed. POS (the humdifier not the Carrier furnace). Just a waste of water on a board, then pisses down to condensate pump, then to sump.
The Aprilaire setup failed after a month of use...the 1" cone screen/debris filter clogged and the thing started buzzing. Never turned the supply back on since.

IMHO-inefficient design: waste of water, waste of electricity, shortens lifespan of condensate pump (how long do they last?) and sumppump (not good having them run all winter, dumping water out to freeze/ice; not good having run all summer when above 80F out). Now before I google, is there an efficient inline humidifier for HVAC system??
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reply to SuperNet9
In one of these furnace threads someone mentioned a steam humidifier. I am planning on checking them out. My last house had the pad bypass type and they do dump a lot of water.

Since my new house doesn't have one getting a one installed is on my list of things to do.

Currently just using a large humidifier that I used with my ranch house I had several years ago. It seems to do a good job but pain to keep filling it up and cleaning it every couple weeks.

Other than a dedicated circuit I would be good to go as far as installation goes. Hot water heater is next to furnace along with floor drain.

It would be easy to tie into an existing circuit for electric but why would the unit require a dedicated electric line. That could be a problem.

I see. Guess heating the water up to create steam would pull a good amount of electric. Not sure if it warrants a dedicated circuit but I guess they do.

reply to John97