During the cold weather months of the year, it’s important to know that your furnace is functional and capable of heating your home comfortably. If you turn on the heat in your home and your AC starts blowing cold air, that’s a problem! Luckily, if you can identify why your furnace is blowing cold air, you have a better chance of fixing the problem. Below are some common reasons that could explain why your furnace isn’t working.
The heater still has to warm up
Just like a faucet runs cold water until it heats up, the heater of your furnace needs to kick in before it starts producing hot air. Give it a minute before you panic and assume that the furnace isn’t working. Within a few minutes, if the vents continue to blow cold air for the whole cycle, it might be worth calling an HVAC professional to check out your furnace.
The thermostat is set incorrectly
Another reason that your furnace is blowing cold air could be that the thermostat is set incorrectly. Often, when turning up the temperature on a thermostat, it is easy to forget to change the actual AC setting to “heat.” If you have turned up the temperature but the air isn’t coming out warm, check to make sure that the “cool” or “fan” settings aren’t on instead of the heat setting. It sounds simple, but sometimes the answer to a confusing problem is the most obvious solution.
There are other issues with the thermostat
It is very common to simply use the wrong settings on a thermostat. However, there can be legitimate issues with your thermostat that cause it to act up and produce cold air rather than warm air. If you suspect that your thermostat is having issues, make sure that the batteries are good. If that is not the problem, contact an HVAC professional who can troubleshoot further for you.
The air ducts are leaking
Leaky ductwork can definitely cause faulty heating. If the warm air escapes the ducts, cold air will most likely be what blows out of the vents. It’s important to check the integrity of your home ductwork often to avoid this issue. This step will also keep your HVAC system efficient and functioning.
The computerized control board is faulty
Modern HVAC tech is usually computerized, which means the problem can sometimes be related to this computer rather than something strictly mechanical. Your furnace could just be needing a simple reset to get it back to blowing out warm air instead of cold. Try turning off your furnace for a minute or two, then switching it back on. If it works after this, it is likely that the issue was a computer glitch.
The furnace needs expert HVAC service
Just like any other part of your HVAC system, your furnace is due for routine maintenance service a couple times a year. If you’re looking for award-winning HVAC service in the Dothan, AL and Wiregrass area, call Long! Book online by clicking here, or call us at 334-790-0977.