This is, of course, a very concerning problem to have on a cold fall or winter day—feeling cold air come out of your vents is the last thing you need, after all. If you have in fact discovered you’re experiencing this problem, the best thing you can do to get your system back on track is give our team a call!
We won’t be able to definitively tell you why your furnace is having this issue through a blog post, but we can speculate and let you know what the problem may be, which we’ve done below.
Just remember, furnace repairs are never something to attempt on your own. You can accidentally do more harm than good, without actually resolving the problem. Keep reading as we go over what could be happening when your furnace blows cold air.
Wrong Thermostat Setting
Sometimes a furnace problem isn’t a furnace problem at all, but rather something going on with the thermostat. First, check to make sure that your thermostat is set to “auto” instead of “on.” When it’s set to “on,” the fan will continuously blow, even if the furnace isn’t actually generating any heat. So of course, the air you’ll notice coming from the vents will be room temperature. On a cold day, room temperature can feel pretty chilly!
There’s also the chance that someone in your home changed the setting on the thermostat because they have a different temperature preference than you—what you’re feeling as “cold” air could just be that your temperature has already reached the desired setting on your thermostat.
Lastly, the problem might be that your thermostat is miscalibrated. This is something our team can help with!
Clogged Air Filter
The air filter that comes standard in your HVAC system is there to protect it from getting infiltrated with dust, dirt, and other debris. Homeowners often believe its purpose is to protect their indoor air quality. While it won’t hurt their indoor air quality, it’s purpose is to protect your furnace.
When the air filter gets too clogged though, it restricts the airflow going into the furnace, and therefore impacts the airflow going out. What you’re perceiving as “cold air” coming through the vents may be less airflow due to a clogged filter. Your air filters are something you should check every 1-3 months depending on the type of filter.
Broken Heating Elements
Whether you have an electric or gas system, broken heating elements will disallow you from effectively using your heating system. The air flowing through your furnace picks up heat from heat exchangers within your system. If these aren’t working right, of course, the air coming through will feel cool.
It’s important to note here as well, if you have broken heat exchangers in a gas-powered furnace it can quickly become a safety hazard. So if you suspect this to be the case, give us a call right away!
DB Heating & Cooling, Inc serves the heating and cooling needs of customers throughout Rockland County, NY as well as Bergen County, NJ and surrounding communities. You can count on us for expert services. Contact us today for quality furnace repairs.