Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

There are a few places in the Northwest, like Bellingham, in which it is crucial to have a functioning furnace in the winter. What happens when your furnace starts to blow cold air? There are a few reason that your furnace may be blowing cold air and there a few things to check before you need to worry too much. At West Mechanical Inc. we are here to keep you warm and toasty this winter. If you are having problems with your furnace, check these things first and then call us for help.

Check your Thermostat

Make sure your thermostat is set on the correct setting. If it is set to “ON” the blower will run constantly even when the furnace isn’t heating any air. And the air that comes through the vents will seem cool because it is room temperature air. Turn your thermostat to “AUTO”, now the fan will only run when the furnace is heating and you won’t get tepid or room temperature air.

Change the Air Filter

A dirty air filter will cause your furnace to overheat. It restricts the air flow in and out of your furnace which can cause it to overheat. If it does overheat, the safety control will shut off the burners causing the fan to blow cool air versus heated air through the house.

Check the Pilot Light

Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the pilot light has gone out. It is a simple fix, just relight the pilot. If it continues to go out after you relight it a few times, then you should call us at (360)734-7599 or request service online. This is indicative of a bigger problem that requires professional help.

Reboot Your System

If you have a modern furnace, you probably have one that is controlled by a computer. Sometimes there is simply a glitch in the system and it needs a simple reset, the same way you would restart your computer or phone. If you turn off your furnace for 30 seconds and then back on, it may reset itself and begin functioning correctly. If it doesn’t start working the way it should after you have restarted the computer, call us at (360) 724-7599.

Ductwork

The older you ductwork is, the more likely it is to be damaged or leaky. If you have a damaged or leaky ductwork air can be escaping before it gets to the desired living areas. Inspect the ductwork yourself, but its possible that you may not be able to visually detect the rips or tears that are causing your leak.

If none of these work, you may be a bigger problem. If you are in Bellingham, the San Jan Islands, Friday Harbor, Mt. Vernon or any of the surrounding communites, call us for assistance. If you are not sure if we cover you zip code check out our zip codes page, our service area page or call us for more information.