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3 Reasons Why Your Heater is Blowing Cold Air

When you come home after a long day at work, you want to walk into a warm, relaxing Ft. Lauderdale space. But if you come back to a cold and uncomfortable home, you might be wondering what is wrong with your heater.

You probably want to know why your heater is blowing cold air. When your heater is blowing cold air, it is important to locate the problem. Not knowing the problem can cause you to waste time trying to fix an unrelated issue.

In addition to wasting time, you could buy parts you don’t need and waste money. You also want to make sure that the cold air coming from your heater is not a sign of a dangerous situation. Being able to identify the reason for the cold air coming from your heater will enable to implement the best solution.

When you know the cause of the problem, you will know your options and be able to make the choice that is right for you. This will save you time and money. We are going to cover the top three reasons your heater could be blowing cold air, which include the following:

• thermostat issue
• overheated furnace
• pilot light outage

Trouble With Your Thermostat

The first issue we are going to look at is problems with your thermostat. When troubleshooting, you always want to start with the simplest solution first and work your way up. If you don’t consider the simple solution first, you could end up overthinking the problem and spend too much time headed in the wrong direction. There are a couple of problems that could be caused by your thermostat.

For example, some thermostats are battery powered. The batteries can last a long time, but they do go out. Many people try to adjust the temperature of their thermostat only to discover their heater is still only blowing cold air.

Because they overlook this possibility, they waste time trying to fix the furnace itself. So, before you do anything else, make sure your thermostat is getting power.

Another possible issue with your thermostat is a shorted wire. If a wire is shorted, it could interfere with the thermostat's ability to communicate with your furnace. If the thermostat is at fault, it will have to be replaced by a professional.

The last issue relating to your thermostat that we are going to talk about is an improper setting. In other words, your thermostat could be set to fan. This might seem obvious, but it is a common issue. People think their furnace is broken, but they did not realize the heat is not turned up on their thermostat. The good news is that this problem is easy to fix.

Dealing With an Overheated Furnace

If your furnace is overheating, it could cause your vents to blow out cold air. This might seem counter-intuitive. However, modern furnaces have a safety feature built in. If the safety feature detects the temperature of the furnace is too high, it will turn the heat off to prevent a fire hazard. When this happens, the blower stays on to cool the furnace down and prevent safety issues.

You might be wondering why your furnace is overheating. The most common cause is a dirty air filter. When you go too long without having your air filter changed, it gets clogged, and the airflow is reduced. This is an issue that must be resolved right away. When your furnace overheats, there is always the risk of a fire occurring. Even though the safety feature will activate to cool the furnace down, there is no guarantee it is completely safe.

Checking Out Your Pilot Light

If your pilot light goes out, it will cause your heater to blow cold air. While modern furnaces can detect if the pilot light goes out, older furnaces do not have this ability. If a pilot light goes out in an older furnace, it is possible for the gas to leak out into the surrounding area. When this happens, it is important to close the valve to the pilot light and open a door or window before attempting to relight it.

If you have a modern furnace, you can try to relight the pilot light if you know how. It is still important to double check for gas. If you notice any unusual smells, evacuate the building until you can verify it is safe to return. If you relight the pilot light and it goes back out right away, you have a bad thermocouple.

Again, it is important only to relight the pilot light if you know what you are doing. If you don’t know how to safely relight the pilot light, you should consult a professional. Consulting a professional will give you peace of mind by ensuring your furnace will be repaired safely and efficiently.

Final Thoughts on Identifying Critical HVAC Issues

All in all, make sure you start with the simplest problem when trying to identify issues with your furnace. When your furnace is blowing cold air, the problem could be caused by a thermostat issue, an overheated furnace, or a pilot light outage.

You can fix your furnace yourself if you have experience and are knowledgeable in this area. However, if you are not completely sure you can work on your furnace safety, it is important to call a Ft. Lauderdale professional.

If you need to consult an expert for your Ft. Lauderdale home, call AAA Modern Air at 954-241-2523.