Texas can be extremely cold during winter. Having a properly working furnace is essential. But the unexpected can happen, and instead of blowing hot air, your furnace may blow cold air.
But why would your furnace blow cold air at a time when you badly need the heat? Take a look at these possible reasons.
Thermostat Issues
When your furnace suddenly starts to blow cold air, the first culprit can be an incorrect setting on the thermostat. Maybe it was too hot the previous night, so you decided to switch the thermostat fan from AUTO to ON. When this is the problem, the fan will run as usual, but you won’t receive the needed heat. All you have to do is change the setting back to AUTO. No expensive repair work is needed.
Another thermostat issue could be an incompatibility with your heating system. If you installed a new thermostat recently, this could be a possible reason. In this situation, you need to give Texas Pride a call so the experts can check the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter will restrict the needed airflow to the furnace, causing it to overheat. Restricted airflow forces the system to work harder than it should to provide the required heat, which leads to overheating.
When the furnace overheats, its limit switch will shut off to ensure the entire unit’s safety. The fan will keep running to cool the furnace and protect it from any further damage. The best thing to do in this situation is to change the dirty air filter and restore the perfect airflow. If you don’t respond fast, you might end up with a damaged heat exchanger, which is costly to replace.
The Pilot Light Is Out
If your home has an old furnace, you’ll also find that it has a pilot light. This is a small flame that runs at all times and is supposed to light the furnace burners. When the flame goes off, it won’t light the burners; therefore, you won’t get the needed heat. Find out if your furnace has a pilot light and try to relight it.
If you have a newer model furnace, you won’t deal with this problem because they come with efficient ignition methods. They have electric ignition that won’t require a pilot light.
If the pilot light keeps going off, it’s time to upgrade to a newer furnace model. Talk to Texas Pride to help you secure modern and ENERGY STAR®-certified products for your heating needs.
Inadequate Gas Supply
If you have a gas furnace, you must know that the gas runs out from time to time. When the furnace runs short of gas, it might lock down to protect it. You need a good amount of gas for your furnace to heat the house. Inspect the unit to ensure the gas supply is on. If it’s not parallel with the gas supply pipe, call the refilling guys to do their work.
If the gas supply is on and well-charged, there could be another issue with the gas supply. The problem could be a severed line, which will need professional expertise to correct.
Problems With the Duct Work
The duct helps in transporting heated air to various parts of your home. But sometimes, the ducts leak air, allowing cold air from the basement or the attic to enter your house. The furnace may not provide enough heat to cover up for cool air that passes through the system. Get a professional to check the ductwork for loosened panels or holes that can cause the air leak.
Give It Time to Warm Up
If you’re coming in from a trip or work and feeling too cold, you might be in a hurry to get the warmth. But if your furnace has been turned off for a while, you need to give it time. It might take some time to start up and blow the warm air. Therefore, it’s natural that it will start by blowing cool air before finally blowing warm air. There’s no need to panic as this is very normal.
Maintain Your Unit to Avoid Such Problems
Whether it’s a minor problem that needs simple DIY work or a major issue that needs professional help, a furnace blowing cold air can be a nuisance. You don’t have to face such inconveniences in your house, not even once.
The secret to avoiding such problems is giving your furnace and the entire HVAC system regular maintenance. Our experts at Texas Pride help residents of Houston, Texas, and the surrounding areas to keep their units in tiptop condition throughout the year. We also offer maintenance agreement services. Give us a call, and let’s work together to prevent unexpected failures.