Air conditioners are killing furnaces

No, it's not a new horror movie, it's the Defect of the Week. And the current heat wave is really making it a critical issue. Check the drainage on your air conditioner. If the water flow is clogged, it can flood your furnace and kill it.

This week, even in a million-dollar condo, clogged drainage hoses or pipes were causing water to flood furnaces and floors. This unseen problem can cause all kinds of damage. Here's what to do. If you're looking to buy a new property, have Complete Home Inspection check out the property for you BEFORE you buy. My client buying the million-dollar condo simply said, "This inspection just paid for itself" when I opened the closet door to the air conditioner and found the drain pan overflowing, flooding the furnace and the floor, and starting to get the carpet wet. Their downstairs neighbor is probably grateful, too, as that water would have to eventually go somewhere.

If you're not in the market for a new home, check the one you live in now. First, see if water is draining out of your air conditioner's drain hose or pipe. Make certain that the hose/pipe is near a floor drain or whatever your system is supposed to drain into (for example, the condo on the fifteenth floor didn't have a floor drain). Sadly, simply seeing water flow doesn't necessarily mean that everything's okay. Remove the furnace's access panel and look for water. Remove the drain hose from the air conditioner and check for current or future clogs. Do everything you can to make certain that the water from the air conditioner is draining only into the floor drain or whatever.

As air conditioners have been running almost constantly lately, the condensation builds up rapidly. And, as you know, water will always end up going where you least want it to go.

Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your own Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com. Your furnace will thank you.