You’re indoors, and it’s freezing. So, you turn on your furnace expecting it to blow hot air and warm your home. Instead, you receive a blast of cold air. That’s unusual – so what’s wrong? Here are five common reasons for your furnace blowing cold and what you can do to resolve them.
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
If your furnace is blowing cold air, your thermostat could be the culprit. It may be set to ON instead of AUTO. Setting it on ON means the fan will blow continuously even when your furnace isn’t on. Set your thermostat back to AUTO to fix the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
Your furnace may also be blowing hot air because the filter is dirty. A dirty filter won’t allow air to pass through it easily. It may force your furnace to overwork to push out hot air. If your furnace overworks, it may overheat and cause the burners to shut down, resulting in it blowing cold air to cool the furnace. Turn off your furnace and inspect the air filter. If it’s dirty, replacing it may fix the issue.
Extinguished Pilot Light
If you have an older furnace with a standing pilot light, the pilot may have blown out. A pilot light that’s blown won’t ignite your furnace, meaning your furnace won’t heat your home. Relighting the pilot light can fix the issue. However, relighting the pilot can be pretty dangerous, so consider calling a professional HVAC technician for assistance.
Insufficient Gas Supply
As a safety mechanism, furnaces are designed to shut down if there’s an issue with the gas supply. If your furnace does this, you may have an inadequate gas supply or a faulty gas valve. These aren’t issues you can fix on your own. Instead, call a professional for assistance.
Leaking Air Ducts
Large holes and leaks in your air ducts may cause hot air to escape before getting to your vents. Repairing and resealing ducts can ensure hot air isn’t lost to leaky ductwork. Have a professional perform an inspection to identify leaky areas.
It’s safe for you to attempt some of the fixes mentioned above. But if your furnace is still blowing cold air after you’ve tried them or the problem is complex, contact us at Gatewood Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. to have a professional HVAC technician help you fix the issue.
At Gatewood Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we want people living in Sonora, CA, and surrounding areas to have complete confidence in their furnaces and enjoy comfort in their homes. If your furnace isn’t functioning properly, we’re ready to examine it and have it up and running in no time. In addition to heating repair, we can also help with heating and air conditioning installation and maintenance. We also offer indoor air solutions as well as zoning systems. Contact us today for more information.
