It has happened to many of us: you go to switch on your furnace on the first cold fall day in Senoia, GA, and the system blows out cold air. As frustrating as this can be, it’s even worse when it happens on the coldest day in winter. Here’s a look at three reasons why your furnace could be blowing cold air.
Thermostat Set to “ON”
Typically, your furnace’s fan only turns on when the furnace itself is on and creating heat. But if your thermostat is set to “ON” instead of “AUTO,” the fan will run constantly.
This means the furnace will only turn on when the temperature registered on the thermostat is below the setting. Turning the thermostat back to “AUTO” can keep your heating system only blowing heated air.
Furnace Pilot Light Out
Most furnaces have a pilot light, which is a small gas flame that constantly burns and lights the larger gas flame when the furnace turns on. But if the pilot light goes out, the larger flame cannot light and the heating system will produce no heat.
While old furnaces had accessible pilot lights that a homeowner could try to relight themselves, newer furnaces have automatic, enclosed pilot lights. If turning the furnace off and back on does not reignite the pilot light, you should call a professional to diagnose and repair the problem.
Clogged Condensate Line
New high-efficiency furnaces generate water that needs to drain. This is typically done with a drain line that runs from the heating system to a pipe that drains outside.
However, if that line gets blocked with dust or dirt, the water can back up into the furnace, causing it to turn off automatically. Also, the pump that removes the water from the furnace can break. Either way, a heating system technician can make sure that your condensate line is running as it should.
If your furnace isn’t running like it should, call Trinity Air Heating & Air Conditioning today. Our technicians can get your home warm again in no time.
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