Winter is finally here, and it’s time to get the heater going. You go to turn it on only to find your heater blowing cold air out of the vents. It’s the last thing you had expected or wanted to happen – but don’t worry, it can be fixed. There are a number of reasons that can cause a furnace to blow cold air, all of which can be fixed.
Your Fan Is “On”
On your thermostat is a fan setting, which will blow air around your house constantly. If this is set to on, the air is not heated and will likely feel cooler than what you’re expecting. Changing the setting to auto means the fan will only turn on when the furnace is on, leaving you with only heat coming from the vents.
The Heater Isn’t Warm Yet
When you first turn on the heat and cold air comes out, your heater could just be warming up. If this cool air turns to warm air, then you have nothing to worry about.
Dirty Flame Sensor
Flame sensors are used on pilotless ignition heaters to keep the furnace burning once it’s turned on. If the flame sensor is dirty and unable to detect a flame, the furnace will not stay warm. You can clean the sensor yourself – but if you aren’t familiar with HVAC equipment, we recommend calling in an expert.
The Pilot Light Has Gone Out
On older furnaces, a pilot light continuously runs to turn the heater on when needed. If it’s gone out, your furnace will only blow out cold air. You can re-light it safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions, or you can have a technician do it for you.
Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter can cause cold air to come from your heater because it can make the furnace overheat. This happens because airflow is restricted, which forces the furnace to run for longer leading it to overheat and blow out cold air. To fix this, replace the old filter with a new one to increase the airflow and prevent overheating.
If you’re still having problems with your furnace and are looking for furnace repair in Thousand Palms, contact the experts at Mendez Air Conditioning and Heating for help.
