There’s nothing quite like the relief of finding refuge in your cozy, warm home after being out in the frigid cold and snow. However, if your furnace is blowing cold air, your home is no longer a comfy, safe haven, but yet another place you need to bundle up in order to stay warm. The last thing that you want is to waste energy by running your furnace if it’s blowing cold air instead of warm air. 

Fortunately, if your furnace is blowing cold air, this is typically something that can be fixed. Here’s what you need to know about some of the most common reasons why your furnace is blowing cold air and what you should do if this happens to you.

#1. Your Furnace Isn’t Warmed Up Yet

If there’s cold air coming out of your vents instead of hot air, there’s no need to panic just yet. Like your body when you work out, your furnace may simply need some time to warm up before it starts working properly. Think of your car, and how it can take a few minutes for it to start heating up in the cold. That can also occur with your furnace, especially if it’s the first time that you’re turning it on in the season.

However, if your furnace is blowing cold air after 10 to 15 minutes, you likely have another issue on your hands. 

#2. Your Thermostat Is Set To On

This is an easy mistake to make, but one that’s just as easy to fix, no need to call an HVAC technician at all! You may have set your thermostat to ‘On’ instead of ‘Auto’ because you want the heat going. However, when you do this, this means that even after your home has reached the desired temperature, your furnace will continue to blow air. Since it’s already heated your home, the air it then blows is cold. 

You want to ensure that you set your thermostat to ‘Auto’ instead of ‘On’. That way, it only runs when it needs to, and the air it blows will be nice and hot. 

#3. Issues With The Thermostat

While we’re talking about thermostats, it’s important to note that the reason why your furnace is blowing cold air could also be because your thermostat needs repairs or replacement. If your thermostat is old or sends incorrect signals, this can cause issues in how your furnace runs. 

You’ll want to check that your thermostat is set to your desired temperature. If it is and your furnace is blowing cold air, you may want to contact an HVAC technician to come out and take a look. 

#4. Your Air Filters Are Dirty

If your furnace filters are clogged, dirty, or in need of replacement, this can impact the functionality of your furnace. This is because it affects the airflow. If your furnace can’t blow enough air across the coils, this can cause your furnace to blow cold air, rather than hot air. 

Fortunately, furnace filters are easy to clean and replace. You may also consider having your ducts cleaned, for optimal airflow and indoor air quality.

#5. Your System Is Overheated

This plays into the point above, because if your furnace doesn’t blow enough air across the heat coils, this can cause your furnace system to overheat. There are a few other factors that can result in your system overheating and shutting down, too. 

If your furnace is blowing cold air, this could be because there’s dirt built up inside its moving parts. This could also be do to mechanical failure or lack of maintenance. It can also occur when your furnace is reaching the end of its lifespan and is due for replacement.

If your furnace is overheated, it may blow cold air and then shut off. You can contact your local HVAC technician to come out and see what’s going on.

#6. There Are Issues With The Gas Supply

This applies if you have a gas furnace, because these types of furnaces need gas in order to generate heat. If there are issues with the gas supply and it’s either not producing enough gas or not producing any at all, this can cause your furnace to still run, but without heat. Ergo, your furnace is blowing cold air. 

If you have a gas furnace, you can check other gas appliances in your home to see if they are also having problems. Depending on whether the issue is contained to your furnace or not, you will want to contact either an HVAC professional or your gas company. 

Is Your Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

These are but 6 of the most common reasons why your furnace is blowing cold air. If you’re struggling with this issue, the experienced professionals here at R & D Heating And Air can help! Contact us today to schedule your furnace repair and let us get your home warm again!

In the winter, you need to be able to rely on your furnace to heat your home properly. If you struggle with your furnace not working, this can lead to higher energy bills and cost you your comfort. In some cases, if your furnace is not heating, you can fix the issue yourself. In others, you’ll want to call your local HVAC technician to come out and diagnose the problem. 

Here’s what you need to know about some of the most common reasons why your furnace is not working, as well as what you can do if you run into these issues. If ever you’re uncomfortable with messing around with your furnace yourself, you can always have your HVAC technician deal with it for you, even if it’s a fix that you could DIY if you were comfortable doing so.

#1. There’s An Issue With Your Thermostat

It may seem like a no-brainer to check your thermostat if your furnace isn’t working. However, you’d be surprised by how many calls HVAC companies get about a furnace not heating only for the thermostat to not have been set to heat.

If your home is colder than you’d like, check your thermostat first. It could just be that it’s set to too low of a temperature or that it isn’t set to heat. Try raising the temperature by 5 degrees and see if that makes a difference.

Some thermostats use batteries, and yours may simply need new batteries. Other times, the wiring is dusty. If you recently had a power outage, your thermostat may have reset its settings and will need to be reprogrammed. In other cases, thermostats run on cycles. This could prevent your home from heating as you’d like it to. 

If this doesn’t work, there may be something wrong with your thermostat or you may have another issue on hand. Many thermostats will display an error code if there’s a problem. 

#2. Your Furnace Filters Are Dirty

If your furnace filters are dirty, this impacts the airflow your HVAC system gets. Your furnace needs a constant supply of fresh, clean air in order to run properly. If your furnace is not working, it could be because your furnace filters need to be replaced. 

Not only do dirty air filters prevent your furnace from turning on due to a lack of airflow, but they can also keep it from turning on due to the fire danger they pose. Depending on the type of filter you have, how often you’ll need to replace it can vary. Generally speaking, it’s recommended that you replace your furnace filters every 90 days or so.

#3. Ensure The Power Is On

We know, we know, this seems like another no-brainer. However, if the breaker has tripped, this can disconnect the power to your furnace. This is easy to check, as all that you need to do is look to see if the circuits are in the “ON” position. If they are and your furnace still isn’t working, then you likely have an electrical issue on your hands.

If it is an electrical issue, you can check this by checking the other electrical appliances around your home. Should this be the case, you’ll want to call your electrician. 

You may be tempted to tape your circuit breaker in the “ON” position in order to avoid it being tripped. However, this poses a safety hazard. You can check the breaker to see if it stays in the “ON” position or not. If it doesn’t, then you likely have an issue with the circuit breaker itself or with its wiring. 

#4. The Pilot Light Is Faulty

Your furnace’s pilot light needs to be on in order for your furnace to heat your home. If the pilot light goes out, this reduces the ability of your furnace to work properly. You can usually tell if this is the problem if you hear your furnace click on but it doesn’t ignite.

You’ll want to turn off the gas and the power because checking this. Oftentimes, the burners need to be cleaned in order for your furnace to fire up properly. 

It’s important to note that if you have a newer system, you may not have to worry about a pilot light, as these often ignite electronically. 

Is Your Furnace Not Heating Your Home?

R & D Heating And Air can help! We provide furnace repairs throughout the Northern Utah area. If your furnace is not working, simply contact us, and we’ll provide you with service in a timely manner.