Your condensate pump, though often hidden away on your HVAC system, plays a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency of your system and preventing potential damage. But to understand just how important this part is for your system, it is important to understand what it does and how it works.

At Genuine Comfort, our team of professionals understands the importance of a well-functioning condensate pump for overall heating and cooling efficiency, as well as your comfort in your home. If you want to learn more about your condensate pump, or you believe it may be malfunctioning, keep reading to learn more. 

What is a Condensate Pump? 

A condensate pump is a device used in your HVAC system to remove and transport condensate efficiently. Condensate is the water produced as a byproduct of the cooling and heating process. When installed, these pumps play a crucial role in maintaining the proper function of your HVAC system by preventing water buildup, which can lead to damage and inefficiencies within the system.

Condensate pumps come in a variety of sizes and designs to accommodate different HVAC setups and are essential for your air conditioner, furnace, and dehumidifier. When installed, these devices can lead to more energy-efficient systems while ensuring they remain free from water damage.

How Do They Work?

Condensate pumps work by efficiently removing condensate from your HVAC system. The pump has a collection chamber where any produced condensate accumulates. When the water levels in the chamber reach a certain point, a float switch is triggered, activating the pump. Once activated, the pump uses a small motor and impeller to move the condensate through a discharge pipe. 

The condensate is directed to a drainage location such as a sewer, sink, or outdoors. In some condensate pumps, there may be a check valve that prevents the backflow of water into the collection chamber. Overall, your condensate pump plays a vital role in maintaining a functional and efficient HVAC system.

With a properly functioning condensate pump, you can prevent potential water buildup and any accompanying damage. With their automated operation, these pumps remove condensate in a timely and controlled manner, ensuring your home’s temperature is perfectly maintained all year long. 

How Often Does it Run?

The frequency of your condensate pump’s run time can vary depending on several factors, including your specific HVAC system and your local environment. Generally, a condensate pump runs when there is a sufficient amount of condensate to be removed. Some of the other factors that influence how often your condensate pump runs include:

• System Usage: The more often you use your HVAC system, the more condensate it will produce. To accommodate for this frequent usage, the pump will run regularly to ensure the condensate is removed and your system runs efficiently. 
• Climate and Humidity: Your local climate can impact the amount of condensate your HVAC system accumulates. In more humid regions, you may notice your condensate pump running more frequently. 
• System Efficiency: Maintaining your HVAC system is an important part of ensuring your system runs efficiently. If you schedule regular maintenance, you may find that your HVAC system produces less condensate. 
• Collection Chamber: The size of your condensate chamber will determine how frequently the pump runs. Larger chambers will store more condensate before triggering the pump, while smaller chambers hold far less.

Does Your Furnace Need a Condensate Pump?

Whether your furnace needs a condensate pump depends on the type of furnace you have in your home. High-efficiency furnaces extract extra heat from exhaust gases, which can produce condensate. This condensate needs to be removed to ensure your furnace functions properly. If your furnace is located below the level of the drainage system, a condensate pump is necessary to remove the water efficiently. 

How to Clean Condensate Pumps

Before you begin cleaning your condensate pump, ensure that your HVAC system is turned off. Once the system is turned off, locate your pump, often located on or beside the system, unplug it, and disconnect it from its drainage system. Using a flathead screwdriver, carefully remove the top from your pump. 

Once the lid is removed, you can rinse the pump with warm water to remove any debris, grime, or gunk that has accumulated inside. Make sure to rinse the drain opening as well to ensure the entire system is thoroughly cleaned. After rinsing, you may notice that there is still some debris present. Use a soft brush to remove any tough, stuck-on debris gently. 

When you’re done cleaning the pump, you may secure the lid and plug everything back into place. If you’re weary about cleaning your condensate pump on your own, it may be best to reach out to an HVAC professional for help. They can perform maintenance on your entire system, ensuring your home is adequately heated and cooled all year long. 

What Happens if It Fails? 

Because your condensate pump is responsible for removing excess water from your HVAC system, its failure can be incredibly damaging. Most often, if your condensate pump fails, it results in a backup of excess water. Once this water gets into the system, it can cause serious damage to its circuit, condenser fan, and more. Some of the most common signs that your condensate pump has failed include:

• Unusual grinding, clicking, or buzzing noises
• The pump not turning off
• Water leaks or overflows
• Inadequate heating or cooling
• Strange odors

If you suspect that your condensate pump has failed, it is important that you shut the system off immediately to prevent any further damage. From there, you should get in contact with your local HVAC professional to schedule emergency repairs to your system. It is essential that you address this problem as soon as possible to prevent costly repairs to the system. 

Caring for Your HVAC with Genuine Comfort

While the condensate pump on your HVAC system may be small, it plays a big role in ensuring the safety of your system and the comfort levels in your home. But there is much more to HVAC maintenance than caring for your condensate pump. At Genuine Comfort, our team of HVAC professionals has years of experience maintaining systems across the Wasatch Front, and they’d love to care for yours as well. 

In addition to HVAC maintenance, our team provides ductless air conditioning and heating services, furnace repairs, air filtration systems, and much more. If you are interested in scheduling HVAC maintenance with our team or you have some questions about your home’s condensate pump, don’t hesitate to contact us today. 

As the winter months draw closer, you are likely to turn on your furnace for the first time this season. But, when you first turn it on, you might notice that your furnace smells like it is burning. This smell might be especially concerning if you aren’t sure what the cause is. 

There are many potential causes of this burning smell, and our team at Genuine Comfort wants you to know them all so you can adequately address this problem. If your furnace smells like it is burning and you aren’t sure what is causing it, continue reading to learn what is causing it, how to address this, and when you should reach out to a professional for help. 

1. It Has Accumulated Dust

When you turn your furnace on for the first time in the fall or winter, it isn’t uncommon for it to smell like it is burning. When your furnace smells like it is burning when it is switched on for the first time after the summer, don’t be too alarmed. As it sits unused, it isn’t uncommon for your furnace to collect a layer of dust. This burns off as the furnace burns, which will result in this burning smell. This burning smell should dissipate as the dust is burnt off and isn’t anything to be especially concerned with. However, if this smell doesn’t dissipate, there may be a different cause.

2. Your Air Filters Are Dirty

If your furnace smells like it is burning, this may be a sign that your air filters are dirty. Determining if this is the cause of the smell should be relatively easy. Your air filters should be replaced about every 90 days. If it hasn’t been replaced in a while, that is likely to reason why your furnace smells like it is burning. If you have replaced the filter recently, there is a chance that it has accumulated dust and debris more quickly, and it needs to be replaced again. Take a peek and double-check that the filter is dust and debris-free before being too concerned. 

3. The Circuit Board Is Broken

Not all of the burning smells that come from your furnace will smell exactly the same. If your furnace smells like it is burning, but that smell is accompanied by a melting plastic or gunpowder smell, this may be a sign that your furnace is overheating or that the circuit board is fried. In this case, it is essential that you turn off your furnace as soon as possible to prevent any additional damage from occurring within your HVAC system. From there, it is best to reach out to an HVAC professional for any repairs. 

4. It Sat Unused For A While

Much like when you switch your furnace on for the first time, it isn’t uncommon for your furnace to smell like it’s burning when it has sat unused for quite some time. If you moved into a house that sat vacant for months to years, it wouldn’t be surprising to find a layer of dirt, dust, and grime across the surface of your home’s HVAC system. When you move into a house that has sat vacant for a while, it might be a good idea to talk to an HVAC company about coming out for maintenance to ensure it is clean before it is switched on. 

Other Smells To Watch Out For

If your furnace smells like it is burning, it is important to keep an eye on this. However, this isn’t the only smell that you are likely to notice from your HVAC system. Some of the other smells that you should watch out for include the following: 

• Rotten Eggs: The smell of rotten eggs coming from your HVAC system is a serious problem and often indicates a gas leak. It is absolutely essential that you shut down the system to ensure you and your family don’t experience carbon monoxide poisoning. 
• Mildew Or Must: A musty or mildew-rich smell coming from your HVAC system might be an indication of mold present in the system. You should turn this off and call a professional to come inspect the system to ensure this problem is properly addressed. 
• Smokey Smell: A smokey smell coming from your HVAC system should be addressed immediately. It is best to turn off the system and double-check that there are no blockages that are affecting the exhaust vent. 

Should You Be Alarmed If Your furnace smells like it is burning? 

If your furnace smells like it is burning, this isn’t immediate cause for alarm. Many of the causes of this burning smell will slowly dissipate over time. However, a few of these smells, including the smell of burning plastic and the smokey or rotten egg smell, are cause to immediately turn off your system. These smells may impact the health and well-being of your family, while others may result in damage being done directly to your system. If you are unsure why your furnace smells like it is burning, you should reach out to an HVAC professional for help. 

Call The Professionals For HVAC Maintenance

Whether your furnace smells like it is burning or you’re moving into a new home, you should reach out to a team of professionals for adequate maintenance. Our team at Genuine Comfort has years of experience, and our highly trained professionals are confident that they can help you with any HVAC problems you may be experiencing.

If you would like to schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment or would like to speak to a member of our team about any other problems you may be experiencing, contact us today. 

Disclaimer: This blog contains a product link. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on this link.

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Tony Bassett, co-owner of Genuine Comfort, recently published an eBook titled, “The Essential Guide to Buying a Furnace.”

If you are in the market for a new furnace, it can be a confusing and stress-inducing process. You have to make decisions like which furnace is right for your family, which company to use for your installation, and much more.

In this eBook, Tony gives you valuable tips and tricks that can help you save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars because you will know what to look for to get the right furnace for your home.