Will this condensate pump work with gas (propane) furnaces?

4 years ago

Hello. First off, I'm quite sure this pump I'm looking at will work for me, but I really wanted people who know better than me to offer any input they can before I potentially order the wrong product. We have a condensing gas furnace that runs off propane. We currently have a Little Giant condensate pump that specifies on the unit that it works with gas furnaces. It was recommended that we add a condensate neutralizer because of our septic system, and the current condensate pump is a bit old so we figured we'd get an all-in-one unit like this Saniflo product:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/saniflo-sanicondens-best-condensate-pump/1001386910

I was just about to order that, but realized it doesn't specifically mention condensing gas furnaces, whereas this other model does (it looks like it's maybe an old model):

https://www.homehardware.ca/en/sanicondens-condensate-pump/p/3125809?page=category%20page#ccode=12882

Before seeing this older model I never questioned the Saniflo Best unit, but now I feel like I need to double check that this will work for our high efficiency gas furnace. Also, if anyone has any other recommendations or input, for other brands, or really anything else for this system, I'm happy to hear it. Little Giant seems to get better reviews than Saniflo, but they don't seem to offer a pump that includes a neutralizer. Also, for more info, our current unit pumps the condensate up roughly 8 feet vertical (through maybe 15 feet of tube) into one of the main sewage lines. Additionally, the septic system failed a few years before we bought this house 2 years ago and was completely redone, and the inspector questioned if the lack of a condensate neutralizer could have contributed. I don't know what the previous system was or how it was maintained, so the condensate could have had nothing to do with it.

Thank you to anyone who has any input on this.

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Comments (6)

sktn77a
4 years ago
I guess it depends where your condensate drains to if you need a neutralizer? Ours just dumps out into the back yard so we don't have one. Haven't had a problem in 30 years.
Bob
Original Author
4 years ago
We have a septic tank and that's where the condensate drains to, through the sewage line. I'm not so concerned about whether or not we need a neutralizer because from what I've read most people recommend one if you have a septic tank. It was more my concern as to whether or not the Saniflo Sanicondens Best pump/neutralizer would work with a gas furnace and the condensate it produces.
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HU-867564120
4 years ago
Because the condensate pump is a stand alone item, it will work with any furnace or source of condensate. The pump is powered from a regular wall outlet and has its own internal float switch, so the pump doesn't care what is feeding condensate to it.
mike_home
4 years ago
The amount of condensate produced is a based on the furnace size. I am not familiar with this pump but it would seem it could handle the condensate flow rate produced at peak operating times. The other thing you need to very if the vertical lift and horizontal run ratings meet the drain line requirements for your installation.

I have the Diversitech CP-22 condensate pumps. No problems for the last 12 years. They have a holder for the cleaning tablets which I insert occasionally.
PRO
Charles Ross Homes
4 years ago
Here's a neutralizing version designed to work with the Little Giant condensate pump:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Neutra-Safe-NSP-50-Neutralizing-Condensate-Pump-w-Little-Giant-Pump-VCMA-20ULS-500000-BTU-hr?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9Zren-iF8wIVSwOzAB0X2wWsEAQYASABEgIeBPD_BwE

As for discharge into a septic system, yes, an untreated acidic discharge from a condensate pump would likely affect bacteria in the system. Neutralizing the condensate would be a good idea.

We don't get much cold weather in our area, and we typically discharge both A/C and furnace condensate to the outdoors where it seeps into the ground. In a cold climate, that might not be an option without heat tracing the condensate line, but it would enable you to decouple the condensate drain from the septic system.
Bob
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you everyone for the advice and input. The weather here has quickly turned cold, and now I'm in a bit of a pinch to get this new pump hooked up. The current drain line for the pump we have is empty so I'd prefer to install the new unit before turning the furnace on and filling the line with liquid.

The pump only needs to lift about 7-8 feet vertical with maybe 25 feet of tube, so probably any pump would work in that regard. Our winters are regularly below freezing for most of the coldest 4 months, so I'm not keen on running the condensate on it's own line outside. I could bury it enough that the cold wouldn't be a problem, but it's already hooked into the the sewage line so it's just much easier to get a neutralizer.

I think this time I'm just going to go with my first thought and get this Saniflo 2-in-1 unit, mainly for ease of install because it looks like it will fit right under the current furnace drain pipe and needs no other connections. If this thing doesn't last, the next replacement will be a higher quality pump with a standalone neutralizer.

Thank you again for the help on this.