You’re cozied up in your living room, enjoying a nice fire. You walk over to the thermostat and adjust it down, but you don’t feel any change in temperature. The furnace is blowing cold air, instead of hot!
In the U.S., there are about 12 million homes with furnaces that blow cold air. That’s almost one out of every five homes.
But don’t panic.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as many as 80% of all furnaces in the United States are in need of repair or replacement. In fact, some experts believe that the number is even higher than that—and that means there are a whole lot of people out there who are dealing with a cold house!
There are all kinds of reasons why the furnace might be blowing cold air. And if your furnace blows cold air, it’s time to take action.
The winter months can be a little tricky for homeowners, with furnaces struggling to keep up with the cold weather outside. If your furnace is blowing cold air, there are some things you can do to help it get back on track.
In this article, we’ll go over why the furnace is blowing cold air and what to do if it happens to you.
Why is the furnace blowing cold air?
Have you noticed that your furnace is not blowing warm air? You’re not alone. This happens to many homeowners in Doylestown, and there are several reasons why it might be happening to you.
If you’ve got a furnace which is blowing cold air instead of warm, here are 15 reasons why:
Thermostat Setting
The thermostat setting is the most common reason for a furnace that blows cold air. The thermostat is designed to turn on and off at different temperatures, but sometimes it can fail to recognize that the temperature has changed and continue to blow cold air.
If your thermostat is set correctly but still blows cold air, it may be because of an ignition or pilot light issue.
Pilot Light or Ignition Issues
A pilot light issue can cause your furnace to blow cold air when it should be blowing warm air. If the pilot light goes out while you’re using your furnace, then it will not be able to heat your home properly.
Power Supply
If your furnace is not blowing warm air, there may be a power supply issue. This could be the culprit if you’ve had any problems with your electrical system, such as a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
Gas Supply
If your furnace is blowing cold air, there may be a gas supply issue. If you’re using a gas-powered furnace, there are several things that could cause this problem:
– Faulty pilot light
– Faulty shutoff valve
– Clogged burner ports
Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter can cause your furnace to blow cold air. When your furnace is running, it pulls in air from outside your home through the filter and then distributes that heated air throughout the house. If you have a dirty or clogged filter, your furnace will struggle to provide heat because it’s having trouble drawing in warm air from outside.
Closed or Blocked Vents
Vents are used to distribute hot air throughout your house, but this won’t happen correctly if they are blocked or closed off. Your HVAC unit might be running, but if the vents aren’t open, then there will be no way for the heat to get into every room of the house—which means some rooms will be colder than others.
Ductwork Issues
If your ductwork is not connected properly, it can cause your furnace blows cool air instead of warm air. This is because cold air inside the ducts will be pushed through the vents rather than warm air.
Malfunctioning Blower Motor
The blower motor can also cause your furnace to blow cold air, especially if there’s a problem with its thermostat. The blower motor helps circulate warm air throughout your home by pushing it out of the vent, so if it malfunctions or stops working, you’ll notice that you’re only getting cool air out of your vents.
Faulty Limit Switch
If your furnace seems to be blowing cold air, it could be because the limit switch is broken. This small device tells your furnace whether or not to turn on, so if it’s broken, you’ll keep getting cold air.
Incorrect Fan Speed Setting
Some furnaces have multiple fans and switches that control different functions. If one of these switches isn’t set correctly—like if the fan speed is too low or too high—it might cause your furnace to blow cold air instead of hot air.
Malfunctioning Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is the important part of your furnace that transfers heat from your home to the air that comes out of your vents. If it’s not working properly, it might be because there’s a blockage in the tubing or an issue with your blower motor and/or fan motor.
Faulty Thermocouple
The thermocouple is a small device that measures the temperature inside the heat exchanger and sends that information to a control board. If it is malfunctioning, it could cause problems with how much heat is actually being transferred into your home.
Incorrect Thermostat Wiring
If the thermostat wires are incorrectly connected, the furnace will not heat up. The thermostat is the control center for your furnace, which means if it’s wired incorrectly or its connection is loose, the furnace won’t start up at all.
Malfunctioning Control Board
If your furnace is blowing cold air and nothing else seems to be wrong with it, then there may be something wrong with your control board. A defective control board can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
– Blowing cold air instead of hot air or warm air
– Blowing warm air intermittently instead of constantly
– Blowing hot air intermittently instead of constantly
System Sizing Issues
If your system is undersized, it will run continuously and not be able to keep up with the amount of heat being pulled from the house. This can cause your furnace to blow cold air intermittently.
What To Do When Furnace Blows Air?
When your furnace blows air, you may not know what to do. After all, it’s not like a car that can be towed to the shop.
But you don’t have to worry—you can take care of this problem yourself. In fact, it’s actually pretty simple. All you have to do is follow these 10 easy steps:
Check the thermostat.
The first thing you should do when your furnace blowing cold air is check your thermostat. It’s possible that the problem lies with your heating system itself, but more often than not, it’s just a simple fix. If you have an old-fashioned dial thermostat, check to see if it’s set at the correct temperature. If you have a newer digital model, check to make sure that it’s functioning properly by testing its batteries and resetting it to factory settings.
Verify the fan setting.
You might also have a blower issue if your furnace isn’t running on “auto” mode—when the fan should be automatically turning off when it senses no heat from your system. To verify this, turn off your HVAC unit and then turn it back on again after about five minutes. If the fan turns back on within a minute or so after turning off the unit (and stays on), then this means that your furnace repair has been set up, and it isn’t cycling correctly through its different modes (cooling/heating). You can fix this by adjusting the temperature setting. If they’re all turned off, you’ll need to turn them on before your furnace starts working again.
Inspect the air filter.
Most furnaces have an air filter near the bottom of their housing, and this is usually where most problems with blowing air start. If there are any clogs or debris in the filter, it can cause your furnace to overwork itself or even shut down completely. Make sure you clean out any dust or dirt that might be clogging up your filters before resetting them (or replacing them).
Examine the circuit breaker box.
If you’ve already checked the filters and still aren’t getting any results from your furnace, it might be time to check out the circuit breaker box (which should be located near your furnace). This is where all of your house’s electrical components plugin—including your furnace—is, so if something isn’t working right here, it could mean trouble! Make sure everything looks okay before trying anything else; if not, then call a furnace repair service company ASAP!
Ensure the gas supply is on.
If you’ve turned off your thermostat, or if you’ve been away from home for a while and have not run the furnace, you might have a blown fuse, or it may be a tripped circuit breaker. If so, turn on the circuit breaker or replace the fuse before continuing with any other troubleshooting steps.
Check the pilot light or ignition system.
If your furnace is blowing air but no heat, there may be a problem with your pilot light or ignition system. To check the pilot light: Ignite a match near the base of it; if it ignites immediately, then you’re good to go! If it doesn’t ignite right away, try lighting it again after waiting a few seconds—sometimes pilot lights need more time than we think they do to get going properly again after being turned off for a while.
Inspect the ductwork.
This is a simple thing to do and can save you a lot of time and money. It’s easy to tell if there’s a problem with your ductwork by simply looking at it. If it’s dirty or damaged, then there’s a good chance that this is causing the problem.
Look for visible signs of malfunction.
If you’ve inspected your ductwork and found nothing wrong with it, then you need to look for other signs of malfunction in your furnace. Some examples include:
– The pilot light isn’t lit
– The blower doesn’t turn on when you press the power button on the thermostat
– The blower continues to run after the thermostat has been turned off
– You hear strange noises coming from inside the furnace or from around it
Reset the furnace.
If your furnace has blown air, it’s likely that something tripped the breaker or otherwise shut down the electrical system. To reset it, turn off the power at your main circuit breaker box and wait for a minimum of 30 seconds before turning it back on again. You may also want to call an emergency furnace repair expert if you suspect something else is wrong with your electrical system outside of your furnace (such as an overloaded circuit).
Call a Professional.
If you are unable to reset your furnace and need professional assistance, look for a local furnace repair near me and ask them to come out for an inspection. They will be able to find out exactly what’s wrong with your system so that they can recommend any necessary repairs or replacements.
DIY Vs. Professional Furnace Repair
The furnace is an important part of your home. It keeps you warm during the cold months and helps to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round. When the furnace breaks down, it can be a major inconvenience for you and your family. You may have to wait hours for someone to come out and fix it or call a professional contractor to do the job for you. Or, you can repair your furnace on your own with a couple of tools and materials.
Both DIY and professional furnace repair have their pros and cons. So which one is better?
Below is a comparison table highlighting the differences between DIY furnace repair and professional furnace repair to help you understand more.
| Aspect | DIY Furnace Repair | Professional Furnace Repair |
| Cost | Lower cost, as you only pay for materials | Higher cost, as you pay for labor and expertise |
| Expertise and Knowledge | Limited knowledge and experience | Extensive knowledge and experience |
| Safety | Potential safety risks if not familiar with HVAC systems and lack proper training | Trained professionals prioritize safety and follow safety protocols |
| Diagnostic Accuracy | May have limited diagnostic skills | Professional technicians can accurately diagnose and troubleshoot issues |
| Tools and Equipment | Limited access to specialized tools and equipment | Professionals have the necessary tools and equipment for efficient repairs |
| Time and Efficiency | May take longer to complete repairs | Professionals can quickly identify and resolve issues |
| Warranty Coverage | Repairs may void the manufacturer’s warranty | Professionals can perform repairs without voiding warranties |
| Long-term Reliability | DIY repairs may lack long-term reliability | Professional repairs ensure the proper functioning and increased longevity |
| Complex Issues | Limited ability to handle complex problems | Professionals can tackle complex issues effectively |
| Legal Compliance | Lack of knowledge of local building codes and regulations | Professionals adhere to local codes and regulations for compliance |
| Emergency Situations | Limited availability for emergency repairs | Professionals offer emergency services for urgent situations |
It’s Time to Call in Professional Furnace Repair Experts!
Heating and air conditioning systems are complicated and require a lot of power to function in a proper way. If something is wrong with your system, it can cost you a lot more money than if you just call professional help immediately.
If you’re dealing with heating issues in the winter, there could be something wrong with your thermostat or valves. Your furnace could also have a problem with its burner. If your furnace is making unusual sounds or smells, it’s probably time to get it checked out by a professional.
The best way to ensure that everything continues operating smoothly is by contacting CDO Heating and Air Inc., which has been providing excellent services for over 25 years in Doylestown and the surrounding area. Our technicians have plenty of experience fixing all kinds of heating and cooling system problems, so you can rest assured that we’ll get the job done right!
We are a full-service heating and air conditioning contractor serving Doylestown, PA, and its surrounding areas with a wide range of services, including:
– Furnace Installation
– Furnace Repair & Maintenance
– Furnace Cleaning
– Furnace Replacement
– Air Conditioning Installation
– Air Conditioning Repair & Maintenance
We know how important it is to get your home’s systems running smoothly again—and we know how frustrating it can be when they aren’t working right away. That’s why our furnace repair technicians are always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so we can respond quickly when you need us most!
So whether your furnace needs Furnace Repair & Maintenance Services in Doylestown or if you need a new furnace installed, we can help! Call us today at (267) 481-7787 to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified furnace professionals so they can get your heating system up and running again!