A furnace is a home appliance that’s powered by either gas, oil, or electricity, which gives you comfortable temperatures in the midst of cold weather. Your thermostat settings indicate your desired temperature, telling your furnace what to do. Your furnace’s control board then ensures that your system’s safety features are all working. Then, the furnace ignites, heats the air, which is delivered via a network of ducts. This, in a nutshell, is how a furnace works.
However, there are times when your heating system fails to deliver heat and transports cold air instead. In this article, we will give you four reasons why such a thing happens.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your reliable heating company in Bloomington MN. We have been helping homeowners keep their homes comfortably warm for over 40 years.
Thermostat Issues
Many heating issues can be traced back to your thermostat. If you have a new thermostat installed recently, you may have bought a thermostat that isn’t compatible with your furnace. If you suspect this is the case, call a heating expert for help.
If you have been using your thermostat for a while, check the batteries. Weak or dead batteries can cause poor performance from your thermostat, such as wrong temperature readings. Replace the batteries as needed.
Confirm that your thermostat is set to “HEAT” and not “COOL” and make sure that the fan is set to “AUTO”. Then, determine if the thermostat is set to a temperature high enough to tell the furnace to produce heat.
Also, check if the internal components of the thermostat are clean and make sure that the thermostat box is level because if it’s off-centered, it won’t give you accurate readings.
System Overheat
When a furnace overheats, it turns itself on and off frequently. This issue is called “short cycling”, which is the main cause of high fuel consumption and furnace failure. A clogged filter can cause your furnace to restrict the airflow within the heat exchanger, causing it to work harder than normal. Check and replace the furnace filter as needed. Keeping your filter clean is the easiest thing you can do to keep your furnace running smoothly. Do not ignore overheating because doing so can damage the heat exchanger, which is a costly part to repair or replace.
Closed registers can also cause your system to overheat by increasing the pressure in your ductwork. This issue slows down your furnace blowers and decreases the airflow within the system.
Moreover, a clogged evaporator coil, a dirty blower wheel, or a broken gas valve can also make your furnace overheat. To avoid these problems, have your furnace checked by a qualified professional, who can identify the cause of the problem and rectify it to keep these issues from escalating any further.
Duct Issues
Your ductwork is one of the most important parts of your home’s heating system — it is the medium by which heated air is distributed throughout your home. If the ducts are poorly sealed or insulated, they let the heated air escape, causing you to have cold air.
Leaky ducts cause several heating issues, such as higher energy bills, the buildup of debris in your system, compromised indoor air quality, and inconsistent heating.
If your ducts have even small openings such as cracks, they may pick up cold air that mixes with heated air. If the damage to the ducts is serious, they may lose the heated air completely. This indicates a major duct repair, which can be pretty costly.
Electrical Problems
No matter what type of system you have, it still requires electricity. Basic things like a tripped circuit breaker inside your electrical panel can cause several issues, including a furnace blowing cold air. A tripped breaker results in a furnace that won’t even turn on at all. It can also affect your pilot light, disabling the furnace to start.
When too many appliances are running simultaneously, your electrical system may get overloaded, which can then trip your circuit breaker. Faulty or damaged wiring or grounding faults can also contribute to this problem. DIY-ing electrical problems is too risky, so, it’s best to call a professional technician for help.
Call the Heating Gurus
If your furnace blows cold air instead of warm, call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. We will restore your heat in no time. We are your trusted Richfield furnace repair company.