With the cold weather upon us, it’s never a good thing when your furnace starts blowing cold air. This is especially true for areas where frigid temperatures are common. In addition to being cold, not having heat can lead to big issues, like your pipes freezing. There are a lot of things that could be going on with your furnace and some of these can be checked right at home. If you find that those aren’t the issue, though, it’s important to call a professional. With that being said, let’s dive right in.
It’s Still Heating Up
One of the most common reasons why your furnace is blowing cold air is because it’s still heating up. Many people expect hot air to blow as soon as the furnace kicks on, but that’s not always the case. This is even more true for systems that are older because they don’t work like they used to. To see if this is the issue, give your system about 15 minutes to warm up. If it’s been this long and there’s still only cold air, you probably have something else going on.
Damaged Ducts
Another reason why your furnace is blowing cold air is that your ducts might be damaged or even have parts missing. This might not seem like a big deal, but the ducting needs to be intact to get warm air everywhere it’s supposed to go. If possible, try and gain access to the area that holds the ducts to see if you notice any damage or missing areas. Make sure you take a flashlight and look at every area you can. If you see damage or missing parts, make sure you call a professional as soon as possible.
Extinguished Pilot Light
While those with electric furnaces won’t have to worry about this, those with gas ones do. Your furnace might be blowing cold air simply because the pilot light is out. To check this, you’ll want to gain access to the area that houses the pilot light. You should be able to easily see if it’s out and try lighting it back up if you can. If you can’t light it back up at all, there’s a chance that something is going on with the light and it’s a good idea to call someone in.
Wrong Thermostat Settings
If you don’t have your thermostat set to blow warm air, it’ll only blow out cold. Thankfully, this is one of the easiest fixes on our list. All you have to do is look at your thermostat and change the settings. Make sure it’s set to warm and set the temperature where you want it. Give it about 15 minutes and check the air. If it’s blowing warm air, then it’s fixed, but cold air means that there’s probably something else wrong with the furnace.
System Overheating
Another reason why your furnace is blowing cold air is because the system is overheating. This can cause the system to blow cold or even shutdown completely. Some of the most common reasons why this might be happening are listed below.
- Mechanical Failure-Since a furnace has so many moving parts and process, it can have a mechanical failure when you least expect it. You’ll need a professional to assess the furnace to find the problem.
- Dirt Buildup-Even if you change out the filter, you might find that it didn’t do the trick. This is because the inside of the unit can get dirt buildup. You have a few options, including having a professional clean it or cleaning it yourself.
- Age-Furnaces have a lifespan and older units might overheat because they don’t work as well as they used to. If your furnace is older than 15 years, it might be time to get a replacement.
Dirty Air Filter
The final thing that could be wrong is a dirty air filter. These are essential to make a furnace run right and a dirty one means that the system can’t work the way it needs to. In addition to blowing cold air, a dirty air filter can also cause the furnace to overheat and ultimately shutdown. The good thing is that it’s usually super easy to find and replace the air filter, as long as you get the right size. You can find filters at many different stores and you can have it changed in a matter of minutes. After replacing the filter, it should only take about 15 minutes for the air to start blowing warm. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to consider other common issues on this list.
As you can see, some of these will need the help of a professional and it’s important to call them as soon as possible. Not only do they know what they’re doing, but they can get your system back up and running rather quickly. If needed, call today and setup a consultation!