Why is My Heating System Blowing Out Cold Air??

You certainly don’t want your heating system making you even colder during these winter months. There are several reasons your heating system blows cold air. We have outlined some of the most common causes and fixes below.

Dirty Air Filter

If you have a furnace that is blowing cold air, it may be due to a dirty air filter. This is because once your air filter is dirty, it may start to block airflow over the heat exchanger, causing it to overheat. In turn, your furnace may trip a high limit switch which causes the heat exchanger to shut off, thus your furnace is blowing cold air. We recommend checking your furnace’s air filter at least once every couple of months. This is because the frequency at which your filter should be replaced depends on the type of air filter you are using, if you have pets, and the time of year.

Check the Thermostat

If the air that is coming out of your vents feels rather cool, it may mean that your heater is not blowing hot air and the fan is still running. In this case, you will want to make sure that your thermostat is set to the “Auto” position rather than the “On” position. This will stop your system from running while the heat is off, preventing the cool air from blowing in your home.

Check the Breaker

If you have an electric furnace, it is possible that the that a tripped breaker can cause your heat to not circulate properly through your home. If you have a gas furnace, it may have an electric starter used to ignite the gas burner, and if your breaker is tripped it will cause the furnace to blow cold air. Ether way – if your furnace is not working, a good place to start is with your electrical panel.

Dirty Flame Sensor

The flame sensor is a safety device used to tell your furnace controller if a flame is present. If it does not sense a flame it sends a signal to shut off the gas valve and prevent your furnace from filling with flammable gas. However, if your flame sensor is dirty, it may not be able to detect whether or not the burners have been turned on and may even prevent them from igniting at all. This too will result in cold air being pushed through your home’s system. The below video goes over locating and cleaning flame sensors.

Other Common Causes

Other elements that may be causing your heating system to blow cold air include your heat pump icing up if you have one or your pilot light going out due to a gas supply interruption. If your heating system is blowing cold air, you may want to call a professional. Our technicians are available 24/7 to deliver the fast and reliable service. Call us today or click here to schedule service.

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