Your furnace is one of the most essential appliances in your home. Unfortunately, over time components inside your furnace can fail and leave you without heat.
There are a number of things that can lead to your electric or gas furnace blowing cold air. For instance, you may need to replace the air filter, or there may be something wrong with one of the components inside the unit itself.
In this troubleshooting guide, we’ll explain what’s likely causing your furnace problems and what can be done to make things right.
Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?
A furnace is a complex piece of machinery that requires many different components to function. Because of this, it can sometimes be difficult to narrow down exactly what’s causing the issue. To give you a better idea of what you’re up against, here are some of the most common problems that plague furnaces:
- Broken thermostat
- Overheated components
- Blown out pilot light
- Dirty air filter
- Worn out electrical components
- Dirty flame sensor or burners
While some of these problems may not be immediately apparent, you can still troubleshoot your heating unit to try to figure out what’s wrong. Follow our guide to diagnose your furnace issues.
Furnace Diagnostic Guide
- Look at the thermostat settings: Make sure that the fan dial on your thermostat is set to AUTO. If the dial is set to ON, your furnace may continue to blow out air even when it hasn’t been properly heated.
- Inspect the control panel: There are many electrical components inside the control panel of your furnace that can affect your heater’s performance. Simply turn the power off on your furnace. Then, after a few minutes, turn the power back on to see if your heat is restored.
- Inspect air filters: A dirty air filter on your furnace can easily block airflow and create overheating problems. If you know where your air filter is located, you can perform this replacement on your own. Otherwise, an HVAC technician can help.
- Scan for leaks: If your air ducts are on the older side, they may have developed cracks or holes that allow warm air to escape your home. Thoroughly look over your air ducts to see if there are any noticeable holes or worn areas.
- Locate the pilot light: If you have a gas furnace, the pilot light is an important component of your heating system. When it goes out, your furnace stops being able to produce heat. If your pilot light is extinguished, you can relight it on your own by following these steps. If it doesn’t stay lit, contact your HVAC company for repairs.
- Check for leaks: Certain types of furnaces have a condensate line for water to drain out of. When these lines become clogged, you will often see puddles of water around the edge of your furnace. If this happens, your furnace will automatically switch off to prevent electrical damage. Water and electricity don’t mix, so call an HVAC professional before trying to make any repairs on your own.
Schedule Furnace Repair in Bend, OR
If you need furnace repairs, trust the experts at Ponderosa Heating & Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical. We’re the best choice for furnace repair in Bend OR and the surrounding communities.
Call us at (541) 549-1605 to schedule repair service.
