5 Reasons Your Furnace is Blowing Cold Air

Did you discover that your furnace is blowing cold air? It’s probably not what you were expecting on a cold winter’s day. Here are some reasons that might help you find the cause. Some are an easy fix; others might require calling a professional to get your house warm again.

• Investigate your thermostat. Check your thermostat settings to see if it’s set to ON, which means the fan will constantly run even when the furnace cycles off. Set your thermostat to AUTO to fix this problem. Installing a new thermostat can ensure accurate communication with your furnace to stop cold air issues. Though, if you have recently installed a new thermostat, it may not be compatible with your furnace system. Before you consider replacing your thermostat, consider the other causes.

• Check your furnace control panel. There may be an issue with the control panel that is making it blow out cold air. Resetting the system can be a simple fix to the problem. Turn off the ON/OFF switch, then wait a few minutes, and flip the switch back to ON.

• Is your pilot light on? This is an easy fix. If the pilot light is out, then relight it. Make sure you turn off power to the furnace, and the pilot light assembly’s reset switch to OFF as well. Wait 10-15 minutes to allow any escaped gas to clear the area, and then turn the reset switch to PILOT. While doing so, use a lighter or match at the pilot end to light outgoing gas. Once the pilot is lit, turn the switch to ON and turn the power to the furnace back on.

• Check the furnace’s air filter. A dirty air filter can restrict air movement through the system. Temperature will rise inside the furnace and the limit switch will shut down the heating cycle. This is a simple fix, just replace the dirty air filter with a clean one.

• Leaking ducts. If there is a leak in the duct work, then it can lead to cold air blowing out of your vents. Leaks can allow heat to escape, and once the air reaches the vents, it can feel cooler. These should be located and repaired by a professional.

If any of these do not correct the problem, then it’s time to call for an HVAC professional. Call Priority Heating and Cooling today with your questions!