Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

Furnaces should last anywhere between 15 and 20 years. How long yours lasts depends on how seriously you take your gas furnace maintenance, though.

Regular cleaning and addressing issues immediately as they arise will help preserve your furnace. Telltale signs like blowing cold air indicate it’s time for furnace maintenance.

Has your furnace been blowing cold air, and you’re not sure why? Keep reading to learn some of the most common reasons for a furnace blowing cold air.

Airflow Restrictions

Did you know that around 75% of no-heat complaints are due to a lack of annual furnace maintenance? Getting your furnace checked once per year ensures that issues like airflow restrictions either don’t happen or don’t become serious problems.

If you’re not getting hot air from your furnace, it could mean there’s a dirty furnace air filter. When the filter gets caked with debris and dirt, air movement becomes restricted. To avoid this happening, check your air filter monthly.

An obstruction in your furnace’s duct system can cause a weak or cold stream of air, too. It could be that a duct run has fallen, become damaged, or has disconnected. Your furnace maintenance company can patch it up easily and get you hot air in no time.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your furnace is blowing cold air, make your first stop the thermostat. Make sure it’s set to HEAT and not COOL. It could have been set to the wrong temperature or setting accidentally.

Make sure it’s set to AUTO too, and not ON. If it’s set to ON, the blower will continue to blow and circulate air through your ducts in between heating cycles, which could be why you’re feeling cool air. Using AUTO uses significantly less energy than ON.

Pilot Light Malfunction

If your furnace’s pilot light goes out, it can lead to cold air blowing from the ducts. If you attempt to relight the pilot light and it continues to go out, you’re probably due to call a furnace maintenance service.

If your particular furnace uses an ignitor, you might need a broken piece replaced. Ignitors do have to get replaced more often than furnaces, so don’t fret if this is the case.

Dirty Flame Sensor

Your furnace’s flame sensor tells your unit to turn on and then warm the air cycling through the system. If the sensor’s dirty, it’s possible that it doesn’t recognize whether your burners are on.

Plus, it can prevent them from igniting. This is one of the most common reasons for cold air pushing through your heating system.

Don’t Hesitate to Schedule Furnace Maintenance

The more consistent you are with furnace maintenance, the longer your furnace will last. Cold air could indicate a number of different issues, which is why it’s essential to identify the problem as soon as possible.

Have you checked the thermostat and changed the filter, and still find your furnace expelling cold air?

Contact us so that we can get your furnace and your comfort back on track. We are here to help!