At this time of year in the Northwest, our furnaces are some of our closest friends. The last thing you want to have is a furnace that malfunctions – brrrr! But don’t panic. While it might seem alarming that your furnace is blowing cold air, there are a few common reasons why.
#1: The furnace isn’t fully warmed up.
When you first turn on the furnace, it’s common for it to blow a blast of cool air. It often takes a few minutes for the air to feel warm. That’s because the cooler air needs to come through the vents. Give the furnace some time to warm up. Think of it kind of like letting your faucet water warm-up – you’ll get cold water at first, then it will gradually get warmer. If the furnace isn’t blowing warm air within a few minutes, there is likely something else going on, and a service call to our team at Specialty Heating & Cooling LLC may be in order.
#2: Your thermostat may be in the wrong setting.
Is the air from your furnace constantly cool? Check your thermostat to make sure that the fan is set to ‘auto.’ If it’s set to ‘on’ only, then it will run even when the furnace isn’t heating the air. Keeping it on ‘auto’ will ensure that the fan only runs when the furnace is heating the air and bringing that air inside.
#3: Your filter is clogged.
When was the last time you changed or cleaned your air filter? Dirty air filters create problems for your furnace. It restricts your airflow causing your furnace to run longer, using more energy. If this goes on for a long time, the furnace can overheat, and this brings only cold air in. We recommend replacing or cleaning your air filter on a consistent basis for the type of filter and the use within the home This helps your system work more efficiently and prolongs the life of the system.
Are you still having problems after troubleshooting? There may be something more serious going on like a broken circuit board, a faulty igniter, or something else. Our professionally licensed team of experts at Specialty Heating & Cooling LLC will determine what the issue is and talk about what your options are. Maybe a simple repair is in order, or a furnace replacement might be the best choice. Contact us today for your questions or to schedule a service call. We’re standing by to help so you can stay comfortable all winter long!
