Common Reasons Why Your Furnace or Heater Is Blowing Cold Air

During the winter months, you expect your furnace to keep your home nice and warm. You won’t find many people who appreciate cold air blowing on them when they expect heat, especially when it is very cold outside. So, what does it mean when your furnace or heater seems to be running fine and powering up as it should, but is not sending warm air into your home or commercial space? Most likely, there’s a problem that needs to be addressed, like a system malfunction or broken component, or it’s a matter of human error.

A heater that is not working during the cold winter months is definitely cause for concern. Luckily, there are a few things you can check before calling an HVAC service technician in Central Kansas to come to your home or business. Here are some of the most common reasons why your furnace or heater is blowing cold air, and what you can try to troubleshoot possible issues.

Thermostat trouble

Your heater is turned on, and the fan is running, but no hot air is coming out of the vents. While this is not necessarily an indication of a bad heater, it is certainly worrisome. Both basic and high-tech thermostats seem simple enough to use when an HVAC technician is walking you through how to use them, but then you’re on your own, pressing buttons randomly until either the heater works properly or the settings are thrown completely out of whack. To eliminate the possibility of thermostat being the problem, check that the fan is set to ON, not AUTO.

Dirty air filter

An overheated furnace could start blowing out cold air. If overheating occurs, a safety control mechanism known as the limit switch will kick in to shut off the burners. Should this happen, the fan will continue running to cool the furnace to protect it from damage. Overheating is likely due to restricted airflow, which is often a problem caused by a dirty air filter. If a dirty filter is the problem, then replacing it with a new one may very well solve your cold air issue, and at minimal expense.

Pilot light is out

A gas furnace’s ignition system ignites the pilot light. If your HVAC system is not blowing out hot air, the heater might not be lighting the fuel. Check if the pilot light is out. If so, relight it and wait a few minutes. If the flame goes out or you have trouble relighting the pilot light, call an HVAC expert for assistance.

Damaged or clogged air ducts

Major ductwork issues can cause cold air to blow into rooms. This includes damage like large holes and leaks, which can let in cold air from the attic. Before you notice ductwork problems, it might seem like the heater is just not working, and that the culprit is something mechanical. Repair any damage to ductwork and check for and remove any debris, then test your heater to be sure the ductwork was the issue.

When you need HVAC service in Central Kansas, you can count on the team of professional heating and cooling technicians at K V K Inc. for help. Call us anytime with questions or to book a service appointment!

Categorised in: HVAC service

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