What Can You Do If Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air?
Is your furnace blowing cold air instead of warming up your home? There are a couple of things you can check on your own, but it can also be a sign that you need an urgent heating repair from a professional heating repair company. Here's what you should check.
Is Your Thermostat Set to "On"?
Your thermostat has two settings. "Auto" means the fan turns on and off when your thermostat reaches your set temperature and your home needs extra warm air to stay comfortable. "On" means the fan runs all the time. That doesn't mean you get warm air all the time. Even though the fan stays on, the heating elements only turn on according to your thermostat temperature. The rest of the time, your thermostat just blows room temperature air around even if it's cold.
If you didn't know this or accidentally pushed the wrong switch, change your thermostat back to "auto." If your thermostat is on "auto" but acting like it's set to "on," you may have a wiring problem that needs a professional fix.
Are Your Ducts Leaking?
Leaky ducts can be another source of cold air. They can let your heated air escape into your attic or pull cold air out of your attic and into your room. Either way, in addition to having cold air coming out, your furnace is probably running longer than it should to reach your desired temperature while running up your energy bills.
The most common sign of leaky ducts or other duct problems is uneven heating. If you get cold air in one room while another stays toasty, asking a heating repair expert to check your ducts.
Broken Heating Element
Another possible cause of cold air coming out of your furnace is a broken heating element. If your furnace starts up when your thermostat reaches the temperature you set and only blows cold air, it could be that the air isn't getting heated. Your thermostat doesn't know the inside of your furnace isn't working, so it keeps it on while waiting for the temperature to rise.
If you're experiencing this problem, check to make sure your pilot light is lit and any circuit breakers and switches are turned on. If those things check out, you'll need a heating repair professional to open up your furnace to figure out exactly what's wrong.
To get help with a furnace that's blowing cold air, contact a local heating repair company in your area.