Condensate Line Question

[Olympias]

I have noticed in the last few days i am hearing what sounds like flowing water and its coming from what looks to be the condensate line in my laundry room. Normally this drips when the AC is running during hot weather, but now its flowing like a faucet on low. I am terrified i am going to get a huge water bill if I dont figure this out, but i am very hesitant to call someone new into my home during COVID. You can see the water flowing in the second picture from the tube on the right side of the box. Is this a problem?

 

[frodo]

go into the attic and see what is dripping into the condensate pipe

 

[CT18]

If you can get to your meter, see if it is spinning or try shutting water main down to see if it stops. Like frodo said getty on up there and see what is up.

 

[Rickyman]

Some furnaces produce condensation so if you’re running the heat that could be the source of the water. Or if you have a humidifier built into your hvac system, that could be malfunctioning and letting water run constantly.

 

[Olympias]

Ok, so i tried a few things. First off my HVAC system is only 2 years old. I went to the attic and heard nothing and saw nothing, no water , no drips, nothing. I then went to shut the water off to the house and that stopped the flow on the condensate tube in the second picture. So based on that i have a plumbing issue. I wish i could post a video but the value pictured in the top right of the first photo has that slight hissing you hear when water is flowing. Any ideas what could be causing this and how do I stop it?

 

[Rickyman]

That could be a trap primer

 

[frodo]

It could be the T&P valve from he water heater
Is the water heater in the attic?
Trace the pan drain and the T&P drain for the WH and see where they go.

Do you have a Humidifier? or a dehumidifier ?

Go BACK up into the attic. above the condensate drain that is dripping.
look under the insulation for the condensate line where it goes into the wall.
then trace that pipe back to what ever it is connected to

Ok, so i tried a few things. First off my HVAC system is only 2 years old. I went to the attic and heard nothing and saw nothing, no water , no drips, nothing. I then went to shut the water off to the house and that stopped the flow on the condensate tube in the second picture. So based on that i have a plumbing issue. I wish i could post a video but the value pictured in the top right of the first photo has that slight hissing you hear when water is flowing. Any ideas what could be causing this and how do I stop it?

 

[CT18]

Check to see if that is a trap primer or your humidifier line may not be turning off when the furnace is off. You need to trace that line down and find out what is up. We could all take guesses as to what it could be. Boots on the ground

 

[GReynolds929]

This sure looks like a pressure relief valve to me. Maybe from your water heater? Reminds me of a below grade install where you have a second pressure only valve set lower than the T&P on the water heater. Is the water hot? Water heater in the basement?

 

[frodo]

IF It is the P&T valve on your water heater, then it is so freaking ILLEGAL I need o name it Juan garcia

THE image you show is a PVC pipe. THAT IS ILLEGAL for a pop off

but what ever. go in the attic, and trace the line to what ever it is connected to. then report back

 

[CT18]

It needs to be on the heater

 

[frodo]

It needs to be on the heater

what needs to be on the heater? use some more words. My ability to mind read is not working today

 

[Olympias]

The water heater is in the garage. The water coming out of the condensate pipe is cold water.

 

[Jeff Handy]

If you can’t find the source of the water up in the attic, it is time to call a plumber.
There seems to be at least three or four possible sources of that water.
A pro will trace it down.

 

[bbp]

Do you have a water softener or water treatment equipment?

 

[Olympias]

Solved, i had a plumber come today because it wasnt anything i could fix myself. It was in fact the valve circled in red in the above photo. My hot water tank doesn't have a termal expansion tank and instead the builder put a valve for that purpose in my laundry room. I had to have him replace the valve and the water has stopped. Cost me $332.