Furnace problems are often a headache, especially if you encounter them during the winter season. Furnace blowing out cold air rather than warm air is a big problem experienced by most of us. Most of us tend to ask why is my furnace blowing cold air?
Many reasons can make your furnace blow cold air. If you encounter this problem, it is best to schedule a call with an HVAC professional that will solve the problem. Down below, we provided some of the causes that can make your furnace blow cold air.
How to Fix a Furnace That is Blowing Out Cold Air
The pilot light is out
It is a common problem that affects the older type furnaces. The older types of furnaces tend to have an element called pilot light. A pilot light is a flame present in the furnace that is used to light the burners.
So, in case you have the older type of furnaces, you should be in an excellent position to improve to the modern kind of furnaces that do not rely on pilot lights.
The new and improved modern type of furnaces are energy-efficient and have many different lighting methods. The electrical ignitor present in the contemporary type furnaces does not need a pilot light. Therefore, they are very similar to the gas stove and how it functions. It functions to create a spark, which lights the furnace burners and saves the pilot flame from running all day long.
For all those asking why my furnace is blowing cold air, and you have the older type furnaces at your place, you should try and relight the pilot flame and check to see if you have already fixed the problem. If this is not the problem, then you have other furnace issues to worry about.
The gas supply is inadequate
If there is not enough gas supply to your furnace, this could cause the furnace to blow out cold air rather than warm air. You should ensure that you turn on the furnace’s gas supply and the entry pipe for gas is intact.
Reasons as to Why the Furnace is Blowing Out Cold Air
Check your thermostat
It is among the most common causes as to why furnaces tend to blow out cold air, and it needs no repair. In case your furnace is blowing out cold air occasionally but still maintaining the home’s temperature, then you should check the thermostat settings.
The thermostat fan has two setting options that include auto and on. The on option means the furnace will keep running throughout even when your furnace system at your home is off. You will feel air coming from your vents, but the air doesn’t undergo cooling or heating.
When you switch on your fan, you will feel cold air. However, if the temperature at home doesn’t change, then it’s simply blowing room air.
When you switch the thermostat fan to auto, this will change some things. The fan will turn automatically on when the thermostat detects a temperature change at your place. It forces the furnace to switch on and begin heating the surrounding air as the fan circulates the heated air throughout your home. In this case, the fan only works when your furnace is running.
Condensation clog
Why is my furnace blowing cold air? Condensation clog is another reason. The new and improved furnace types that are energy-efficient tend to have an element called the condensation drain. The primary function of the condensation drain is to ensure that it removes the water created as a result of the furnace’s heating process.
Most parts of the furnace have sensors of which switch off some features. If the drain is clogged, this may result in the furnace burners, not lighting, which might be good.
Clogged filters
Clogged filters in your furnace system could cause your furnace to blow out cold air rather than warm air. To avoid clogged filters in your furnace system, you should be in a good position to change the furnace filters regularly.
When the furnace filters are clogged, this could result in worse things. The ability of your filters to keep the air clean is greatly reduced. It allows more contaminants in the air.
Clogged air filters can also cause air restriction to the furnace, which causes the furnace to work even more complex, and when left on for a long duration, the furnace might overheat. These are the problems you should avoid.
If your furnace gets to the point that it is almost overheating, there is a safety measure called the limiter switch. You can enable the limiter switch by the furnace to prevent the risk of fire. The limiter switch works in a way that it switches the furnace burners off to prevent your home from going up in flames.
It can also ultimately cause damages to the heat exchanger present in the furnace, which is expensive to repair.
Blocked vent pipes in the furnace
This is another reason why is my furnace blowing cold air. In other cases, the vent pipe leading to the outside might be blocked by different items thus causing the furnace to switch off or rather blow out cold air. You should be able to clean the vents regularly to avoid such problems.
Ductwork problems
Sometimes the ducts tend to get leaky this allowing the cold air to pass in through the vents. It can cause cold air to blow through the system. That’s why you tend to ask why is my furnace blowing cold air. You should be in an excellent position to clean and maintain the ductwork system to avoid such problems.
Why Is My Furnace Blowing Out Cold Air – Conclusion
If you need any assistance, you should be able to schedule a call with an HVAC professional that will assist you in fixing and maintaining your furnace system. Your furnace should be able to blow out warm air to keep your family comfortable and save money on your utility bills in the long run!
