Furnace Not Blowing Hot Air

Is Your Furnace Not Blowing Hot Air?

Furnace Blowing Cold Air

Is your furnace blowing cold air instead of hot air? This is a common problem that homeowners experience. To troubleshoot this issue, first check to see if your thermostat is set up properly. Make sure the fan control is set to “auto” instead of “on”. If you believe your thermostat is set correctly, you can then turn off the furnace at the thermostat and examine the filter. If the filter appears dirty, replacing it can solve the problem. But if the filer looks good, you can then go to the furnace itself for an evaluation.

If you have an older furnace, check the pilot light. You can try relighting this, which is done by finding the dial that has “on'', “off,” and “light” options on it. Turn the heater off for a few minutes, then turn the knob to “light” and push the button.

The next step is to use a long lighter to make an attempt to turn the pilot light back on. If it ignites, turn the dial to “on''. If this doesn’t solve the problem or if you have a newer furnace without a pilot light, you may need to contact an HVAC service provider for help.

Heater Not Blowing At All

Another common furnace issue involves a heater not blowing air at all. If this happens while your furnace isn’t powering on, check the thermostat and filter to see if there are any problems there. If both of those look good, head over to your electrical box and check to see if a fuse has been tripped. Contact a professional if you aren’t comfortable checking for this. If you notice nothing wrong, go to your furnace.

First, make sure your heater is turned on. Then, remove the side panel of the furnace to open it up. On the inside of the unit, you may see a reset switch. Be sure to research the brand and model of your furnace before hitting buttons. If found, hit the reset button. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you’ll have to contact an HVAC professional to further examine the issue.

Other Common Furnace Issues

As many homeowners use a furnace on a daily basis during the cooler months, these machines will have problems eventually. This is why routine furnace maintenance is essential. When minor problems occur, they can easily turn into more costly, more complicated issues if they aren’t fixed right away.

While there are many issues that can go wrong with your heater, the most common problems involve your thermostat and filters. That said, be sure your thermostat is installed and set up by a professional. For your filters, these must be changed often to ensure your furnace works efficiently and effectively. If these aren’t replaced every few months or so, your heater will work harder than it should.

If you’re experiencing a furnace not blowing warm air, your furnace may have a cracked heat exchanger. Due to the complexities of this fix, you should contact a professional for help.

If your furnace works fine but you hear loud noises, you could have a clogged burner, an airflow issue, or a problem with the ball bearings in the system. If this is the case, a professional can provide a solution. If the noise you hear is a high-pitched squeal, there could be a belt problem. Similar to a car, this belt can start to fray over time. This issue also requires the expertise of an HVAC technician.

Another common heater problem involves a furnace that heats up fine but continues to blow air that isn't’ warm. This could be caused by an issue with your limit switch. This switch can be replaced, but this service should be completed by a professional.

Is your furnace not heating up like it should? This could be a problem with the ignition or pilot light. It’s best to call an HVAC professional before a furnace issue becomes much worse.

Leave Furnace Problems To The Experts

While a furnace involves a great deal of heat and energy, there are always risks involved when trying to complete a repair or troubleshoot a problem. That said, never work on your HVAC machinery if you’re not comfortable doing so.

Here are some risks you take when you operate on HVAC equipment:

• Electrical shock
• Serious injury
• Making the issue worse
• Breaking your system
• Voiding the unit’s warranty

Some furnace problems only need a minor fix while others need an extensive repair. Even if you have some experience with HVAC equipment, trying to fix something on your own can be a risky decision.

Choose A Reliable, Trusted HVAC Provider

Whether you have a furnace not blowing hot air or an AC unit not blowing at all, it’s always best to choose an HVAC technician you can depend on. While these professionals handle very expensive and important equipment, it’s vital you choose a provider you can trust.

While the majority of HVAC problems can be repaired, routine maintenance may prevent these complications in the first place. To increase the longevity of your furnace, always make sure to change your filters, schedule routine maintenance visits, and take care of system issues right when they happen!