Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

In the Midwest, we know that winter can be an unforgiving and relentless season. With temperatures often in the single digits, and even below zero, it's no wonder that when spring begins to peek its head around the corner, we all get more than a little excited. One thing that tempers that excitement is when your furnace starts blowing cold air instead of hot.

Don't worry - we're here to offer you some easy furnace troubleshooting tips so that your home will be cozy and warm once again quickly. It's true that this issue may have various causes, but don't fret! We'll help you get through it.

Why Is My Heater Blowing Cold Air?

There are a few reasons your furnace might start blowing cold air:

Check the Thermostat Settings

To begin troubleshooting, take a look at your thermostat settings. When the furnace is set to "auto," it might be inadvertently distributing cold air until it begins heating up the house. Give it some time and see if that solves your issue - you should soon feel warm again.

A thermostat can sometimes be switched to "on" instead of "auto." This means the furnace will constantly run, even if your home has reached the desired temperature.

Check Your Furnace Filter

If your furnace filter is dirty, it can restrict airflow and cause your furnace to blow cold air. A furnace filter should be changed every one to three months, depending on your filter type.

If you have a disposable fiberglass or pleated paper furnace filter, it's best to change it monthly during peak heating seasons. If you have a washable metal furnace filter, you can usually get away with only changing it every three months.

Please make sure you check your furnace filter regularly and change it as needed to ensure optimal furnace performance.

Pilot Light is Out

If you have a gas furnace, one possible reason it's blowing cold air is that the pilot light has gone out. The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas in your furnace.

If the pilot light goes out, your furnace won't be able to produce heat. To relight the pilot light:

• Locate the pilot light access panel on your furnace. You can usually find it near the bottom of the furnace.
• Open up the access panel and look for the pilot light.
• Once you've found the pilot light, use a lighter to relight it.
• If you can't find the pilot light or relight it, contact a furnace repair technician for assistance.

Broken Furnace Control Panel

A damaged control panel on your furnace might inhibit it from transmitting the appropriate command to its blower, leaving you without heat. As a result, your furnace will blow cold air instead of heat.

A power surge or power outage usually causes a broken furnace control panel. To fix a broken furnace control panel:

• Unplug the furnace from the power source.
• Allow a couple of minutes to elapse, and then reconnect the plug.
• Re-plug your furnace, activate it, and inspect the control panel to ensure that it is functioning properly.

If the furnace control panel still isn't working, contact a furnace repair technician for assistance.

A professional furnace repair technician can help you identify and fix the problem quickly and efficiently. Contact us today for furnace repair services in Grand Rapids! We are here to help you stay warm all season.