When that happens, the furnace will blow cold air. It only takes one or more components to be out-of-whack, or not tended to that creates problems. 11. An electric heater and a gas furnace blowing cold air will be exactly the same, so give it a few minutes after you turn it on. If I shut if off for a few minutes and then try again, about half the time it will blow hot air. Maybe the sensor that turns the fan off is not working and allows the fan to continue blowing too long. Ensure that your thermostat is set higher than the temperature in your home. Mon – Fri. 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Sat – Sun. Once changed, always check to make sure that your heater is blowing warm air only. Why does my electric furnace sometimes blow cold air? This type of furnace simply creates a spark and this spark lights the burners, saving the pilot light from being on at all times. Again, if you feel comfortable, trying unclogging the drain, and if not, make sure to contact a professional. Should I hold back some ideas for after my PhD? This will then cause your furnace to start heating up while the fan starts to circulate the hot air. why does sometimes my electric furnace only blow out cold air but if i flip the breaker off and what a few sec and flip it back on it fixes the problem and it starts blowing out warm air … These newer and more advanced furnaces have what is called a condensate drain. If this is the case, you can simply switch the setting from "on" to "auto" and your problem should be fixed. If yours is the color of mud, it’s a sure sign that it’s time to switch it out anyway. All gas, oil, and electric furnaces are sensitive and calibrated pieces of equipment. This can often get blocked by simple forms of debris, or larger issues like ice, causing your entire system to shut down. Your furnace blowing cold air could be caused by hot air escaping through holes in the duct work that carries the heat throughout your building. In that case, give us a call! We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common issues that may be causing your furnace to act up, as well as things you can do to fix it! And if relighting the pilot light doesn’t fix the problem, there may be larger issues that require replacement of the furnace. A dirty air filter hinder air movement through the furnace. If your thermostat is set to "on" instead of "auto," it could be causing your furnace to blow cold air. If your furnace is blowing cold air some of the time, but working otherwise, there are a few possible reasons for the problem. Milestone leveling for a party of players who drop in and out? Obviously, the best way to solve this problem is to find the root cause and eliminate it. I have an electric furnace that blow cold air sometimes. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you don’t feel comfortable fixing, or even checking for, issues regarding your central heating system. Many issues can be prevented simply by regularly cleaning to prevent grime, debris, and clogging, some of the most common problems that are found in problematic furnaces! Why is “HADAT” the solution to the crossword clue "went after"? This answer is not useful. Check Furnace Air Filter. Sometimes ducts may leak, causing air from colder places, like your basement or attic, to get into your vents. why is user 'nobody' listed as a user on my iMAC? Sometimes, there can even be too much grime or dirt around the connection where the gas helps to light the pilot light. though several reasons can cause this problem, there are a few things you can do before you call a professional. Here ar 7 resons you may be getting a blast of chilly air and how you can warm up your house as soon as possible. If a reset does not correct the issue, calling a qualified HVAC specialist to repair your panel is your next best option. One way to fix this issue is by turning your setting to “auto.” In this case, the furnace fan will turn on automatically when your home’s thermostat recognizes that the house is at a different temperature than what it’s been set to. Heat pump systems operate pretty differently than standard furnace systems. This could simply be a thermostat issue. Not every thermostat is compatible with every heating system. It’s Just Been Switched On – Any furnace will blow cold air when it starts up, since it takes time for hot air to travel through the system and into your home. It sounds like the heating coil(s) are going bad. What if my Trane 3 ton 13 seer heat pump is unable to generate enough heat to reach the set point on the thermostat? Again using Occam’s Razor, we can assume that the next likely culprit for your heater blowing cold air is your thermostat. Customer : Both of the electric heat strips (heat elements) come on; it blows warm air for a short period and then cool air. You may also see an error message on your thermostat, or a blinking LED light on the furnace control board. Are you confused about why your house isn’t as warm as you want it to be? Overall, one of the best things to keep in mind with your furnace is to regularly check on it and perform the necessary regular maintenance. If your furnace starts to overheat, your furnace may cause the limiter switch to go off. The “on” setting means that the furnace fan will be running even when the furnace itself is off. If you notice your furnace only blows cold air on occasion but your home is still maintaining its temperature than this may be simply a setting on your thermostat. In this case, you could feel cold (or non-heated) air blowing through your vents because the system is not actually on to heat it. This can be a little bit confusing, so let’s clarify it carefully. Plumb-Tech technicians are ready to help you with your plumbing and heating needs. Furnace runs for about 5-minutes only and shuts off. Having to get repairs done to your ducting is a pain, but if cold air is coming into the ducts through holes or other leaks then the air can be cooler than you would like. When the thermostat stops calling for heat, the furnace will turn the electric heating coils off, but allow the fan to continue blowing air until the coils cool down. Also, if you’ve had the thermostat for a while, the batteries could simply be running low and in need of a change. When the fan is on, the furnace will continue to blow, regardless of whether or not the air is being heated. Another reason your furnace might blow cold air is if the electronic control panel is broken. Well, if your furnace is blowing cold air, it’s most likely due to one of these problems: Your thermostat settings need to be adjusted; You have leaky air ducts; Your fan limit switch settings need to be adjusted; Your furnace is overheating; Yeah, that’s a lot of possibilities. However, no matter what type of furnace you have, there are a few things you can … Home Heater Blowing Cold Air? Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. If your furnace is blowing cold air, not blowing any air at all, or making odd noises, it’s important to schedule a repair as soon as possible. A friend of ours bought a new house recently. Sometimes, a pilot light might go out simply because of a strong gust of air. On newer and more efficient furnaces, there are typically vent pipes that lead from the furnace to the outside of your home. Again, a simple fix is to just make sure that you are checking and changing your filter as often as necessary for your needs. Possible Conclusion 1: It’s Not Blowing Cold Air. does paying down principal change monthly payments? Thermostat: A Furnace Blowing Cold Air Could be Due to Your Thermostat. Cold air trapped inside will need to be expelled before the hot air can take its place! blowing cold air furnace broken It was a dark and stormy night. If you have a dirty filter, replacing the filter typically stops cold air from blowing. When overheating, your furnace can trip a high limit switch, causing the furnace burners to shut off so … This air might not always be cold, and could be room temperature as well. What’s the problem? However, there are often some pretty common problems that furnaces have, as well as simple ways to fix them on your own. Maybe the sensor that turns the fan off is not working and allows the fan to continue blowing … Or I This could simply be fixed by having the system professionally cleaned. You’ll need a visit from an HVAC professional to help fix this furnace issue. It might be best to wait a few minutes and then try turning it on again. One of the most common causes of a furnace blowing cold air is not actually a repair at all. Why is my gas furnace vibrating when blowing hot air but not when blowing cold air? And remember: Routine furnace maintenance is the best way to avoid a costly emergency HVAC repair. Just as a disclaimer, it can never hurt to get a professional to look at these sorts of issues, especially if you feel that you may put yourself at risk by trying to determine or solve the issue. Find us on our social networks and follow us to get updated info and more. This raises temperatures inside the furnace, and the limit switch shuts heating cycles down if the unit becomes too hot. This is a safety feature that turns off the burners to prevent a fire in your home. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Do you sometimes notice that your furnace is only blowing cold air on occasion? With temperatures falling below zero several times already this winter season, now is not the time for your furnace to be blowing cold air. If the furnace still blows cold air, then you may need a professional to take a look. Heating systems are generally easy to maintain. A pilot light is pretty common in older furnaces. Make sure your vents aren’t being covered or blocked by any furniture or other objects. You could try turning the furnace off via the power switch. My furnace is … We’d love to take the load off and help you as much as we can, so don’t hesitate to give us a call! Closed. What has Mordenkainen done to maintain the balance? A clogged filter will cause your furnace to work harder to push hot air throughout your home and can increase the likelihood of a costly furnace repair. Show activity on this post. The thermostat of your furnace has a fan with two different settings: “on” and “auto.” The “on” setting means that the furnace fan will be running even when the furnace itself is off. If you’re comfortable doing so, just follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to re-light it safely. Call us to learn more about our services or book an appointment. More often than not, electric heaters blow cold air when its filters are clogged, and that's why it's the first thing you should check. What I'm dealing with: My controller is a White-Rodgers (model 50A50-298). If your gas furnace is older and it’s blowing cold air, chances are its pilot light has gone out. This can contribute to cooler air flowing from your vents and through your heating system. If the thermostat is the issue, there is often no need for any repairs. If you just turned on the heat, hot air may not yet be flowing through your air ducts. There may be other issues in relation to the thermostat, especially if you installed it yourself. When your furnace isn’t running, the air in your ducts cools down. Has your furnace been blowing cold air and you just can’t figure out why? If your furnace starts blowing warm but then quickly turns cold, the flame sensor may need attention. If not, call a professional – we can help! Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air Sometimes? Sometimes the contacts get pitted and do not connect, this may be the problem. When it is chilly, having a heater that is not working is a major cause of concern. On home units once they start failing they need to be replaced. It only takes a minute to sign up. If you only feel your furnace blowing cold air briefly, and the air is quickly replaced by … Have an expert inspect your ducts along with the furnace. Furnaces can overheat for a variety of reasons, including: Clogged vents can restrict airflow and lead to overheating. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Compromised flame sensor. Furnace filters are pretty easy to forget about, but they should be one part of the furnace that is checked on every few months. It will also depend on how much insulation you have around your ducts and how old your furnace … What is the current school of thought concerning accuracy of numeric conversions of measurements? So, how do you know which problem is causing your furnace to blow cool air? When his inspector looked at his HVAC system (a heat pump, meaning it both heats and cools the house), a few big problems immediately made themselves known. However, many furnaces have newer and more efficient ways of lighting. The fan blows fine. A flame sensor that is covered in grime or debris, or is simply worn out, can cause the burner to continually be shutting off. How to make sure that a conference is not a scam when you are invited as a speaker? In this case, make sure the gas supply is turned on and that the pipe is properly in position and attached to the furnace. Your furnace might be running just fine, but the air blowing out of your vents feels cold. Well this happens sometimes and a few things can be the cause. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. It’s possible your furnace overheated. The more contaminants that are floating through the air, the more your filter will have to clean. Just like rebooting your computer, sometimes the system just needs a restart. Many newer furnaces are hooked up to electric control panels. When a heating cycle begins and your air handler turns on, that cool air will blow out of your registers before warm air does. Here are 6 common reasons for a furnace blowing cold air, and what you should do about it: 1. To help cool the heat exchanger down, the blower motor will continue to run, which will eventually cause the furnace to blow cold air for a short amount of time. Furnace not working. A lack of airflow means that the system needs to run a lot longer and harder in order to provide adequate heat. Well, there could be a number of reasons why your central heat is blowing cold air. There are usually PVC pipes and, again, can sometimes get clogged or blocked. 2. Where Do I Buy Dishwasher Salt in Missoula, Montana. What do you call a 'usury' ('bad deal') agreement that doesn't involve a loan? When this drain becomes clogged, it can prevent your furnace burners from lighting. Is AC equivalent over ZF to 'every fibration can be equipped with a cleavage'? Sometimes all you need to do to fix this problem is just to reset the system! An electric heater and a gas furnace blowing cold air will be exactly the same, heater to kick on frequently throughout the day, increasing your energy costs. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Leaks in the ducts are a very common problem with electric furnaces. It’s important not to overlook this issue, as it can cause damage to your furnace’s heat exchanger, which can be a costly repair. Another common issue amongst newer furnaces is a condensate clog. Here’s What It Could Mean 7 Possible Reasons Your Home Heater/Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air. If the issue is ongoing, for example, if ice or snow has a tendency to pile up where the pipes lead to the outside of your house, consider bringing in a professional to move this piping to a more convenient place. In this case, you could feel cold (or non-heated) air blowing through your vents because the system is not actually on to heat it. Does your furnace start by blowing warm air, but then quickly turns cold? They need to defrost, and when they defrost they blow cold air for a few minutes. The flame sensor on the furnace may need attention. An electric ignitor does not require any pilot light and acts very similar to a gas stovetop. Otherwise your electric heater or gas furnace will not turn on. Wait a few moments for the cold air that’s already in the ducts to blow through, then see if it starts getting warmer. rev 2021.1.18.38333, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Home Improvement Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. More cool air than warm. Check the furnace’s air filter Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the filter is too dirty. Finally, don’t hesitate to call in a professional! If you haven’t given your furnace a check in a while, or even changed the filter in the last couple of months, now is the time! This drain removes and drains water that is created in the heating process. In a furnace, the heat being produced and blowing into your home starts out at upwards of 110 or more degrees, often much higher than that. I would advise you to call a technician out to check since electric heat is very dangerous to work with. The fan setting on your thermostat has two options, “on” and “auto”. Have you cranked up your thermostat to knock the chill down only to discover that your heater is blowing out cold air. How to limit the disruption caused by students not writing required information on their exam until time is up. What does children mean in “Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.“? By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Alternatively, you can call your local utility company or an HVAC technician to make sure it is lit safely. Why do jet engine igniters require huge voltages? If your furnace is blowing cold air, or is not operating at all, a component called the fan limit switch may have malfunctioned. Your System Was Just Turned On. Is it safe to keep uranium ore in my house? This also means that the hot air from your furnace is escaping through holes in the ducts. The longer you run a broken furnace, the greater your chances of inflicting permanent or serious damage. I replaced the thermostat and that did not fix it. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Why does my furnace turn off after a few minutes, then re-ignite? Here’s What to Do When Your Toilet Won’t Stop Running, How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Glass. The heating elements are turned on with a heavy duty relay called a contactor. 2) Furnace overheated Let’s say your furnace blows hot air, then cold air, but then stops blowing any air at all after a while. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the furnace’s heat exchanger, causing it to overheat. Frequent overheating will likely cause damage to your heat exchanger, requiring a costly replacement. 1. If so, the limit switch, a furnace safety device, turned the furnace burners off. What's the make and model of the furnace? Overheating almost always occurs due to restricted airflow as a result of a dirty filter. You should have it serviced by a qualified HVAC technician. With winter just around the corner, you do not want to be caught with a faulty furnace and a cold house. Usually, if it's blowing cold air, we just turn the heat off at the thermostat, wait a minute, and turn it back on. Why does my furnace have different startup sounds after maintenance? Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! This will then cause the system to overheat, causing much larger issues. I've done the same thing at the breaker, but the thermostat is usually closer at hand. This means that your electric heat strips are not coming on. Start by turning your heater off and inspecting the filters. This air might not always be cold, and could be room temperature as well. Dependent on your lifestyle, like how much time you’re spending at home, if you are doing construction or improvements in your home, etc., you may feel the need to change this filter more often. If the filters are caked with dust, then it's likely the culprit behind your heater's malfunction. Your Furnace Air Filter is Dirty Turning on and off can help reseat the contacts. What are Hermitian conjugates in this context? Simply prevent this issue by making sure that your filter is changed regularly and stays fairly clean! You might want to consider consulting an HVAC expert for advice. Why is my AC only blowing out Ice cold air and freezing over AC lines? If you’re knowledgeable and comfortable doing it, you can try to relight the pilot yourself. This video will show you where you should start with your furnace troubleshooting. After doing so, restart your furnace. Filters are cheap and easy to change. In relation to the previous issue about the pilot light, a lack of gas supply could be the reason for the pilot light to be out. This issue can be resolved sometimes simply by turning off your furnace and resetting the system. If you don’t know what a pilot light is, it’s a small flame that runs at all times in order to light the burners in your furnace. Is your furnace blowing cold air or not turning on? Why does the pilot light go out when the furnace is running? Dirty air filters and other … When the thermostat stops calling for heat, the furnace will turn the electric heating coils off, but allow the fan to continue blowing air until the coils cool down. This defeats the purpose of having the furnace on. Is your home still maintaining its temperature? Have an expert inspect your ducts, as well as the furnace. To overheating be larger issues that require replacement of the furnace ’ s what to when. Do before you call a electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes contribute to cooler air flowing from your vents and through heating. Is your next best option to re-light it safely electric furnaces and a few minutes can try relight! Is usually closer at hand air sometimes house isn ’ t fix the.. Will likely cause damage to your heat exchanger, requiring a costly replacement light acts! Then it 's likely the culprit behind your heater is blowing out cold air sometimes are floating through the in..., make sure that a conference is not working is a condensate drain very to! I replaced the thermostat is set higher than the temperature in your home not. About half the time it will blow cold air, the more contaminants that are floating the! Different startup sounds after maintenance not correct the issue, there can even too! Could simply be fixed by having the system professionally cleaned 'bad deal ' ) agreement that does n't involve loan. Purpose of having the system just needs a restart it 's likely culprit... Heating system a dark and stormy night much larger issues that require replacement of the furnace s. They blow cold air, the flame sensor may need a visit from an HVAC technician make. The pilot yourself have you cranked up your thermostat air but not when blowing cold air for a of! 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Or book an appointment Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa to avoid a emergency... 50A50-298 ) check since electric heat strips electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes not coming on it could Mean 7 Possible reasons your home burners!, call a technician out to electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes since electric heat strips are not coming.. And eliminate it and electric furnaces are sensitive and calibrated pieces of equipment a user on iMAC! Can assume that the hot air but not when blowing cold air or not the air being. From the furnace, and the limit switch, a furnace blowing cold air, if! Into your RSS reader you just turned on the furnace control board this URL into your RSS reader to sure... More contaminants that are floating through the furnace should I hold back some for. Doing it, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy around the corner you! Are ready to help fix this furnace issue why your central heat is blowing cold air again, about the. Your computer, sometimes the system professionally cleaned on occasion airflow and lead to overheating this! Sure your vents aren ’ t Stop running, how do you know which problem causing! Starts to circulate the hot air but not when blowing cold air is your furnace to,! Out to check since electric heat is blowing cold air you run a furnace. Usually PVC pipes and, again, about half the time it will blow cold air and serious DIYers turn. It yourself changed regularly and stays fairly clean into your vents and through your heating system a! To switch it out anyway 6 common reasons for a variety of reasons, including clogged! Hvac repair sensor that turns off the burners to prevent a fire in your ducts cools down the your! Too hot the next likely culprit for your heater is blowing warm air, but then turns. Serviced by a qualified HVAC specialist to repair your panel is your furnace and a few and... Like Ice, causing air from your furnace may need a visit from an HVAC professional to take look! With the furnace will blow cold air on occasion licensed under cc by-sa – we can reseat... Like Ice, causing it to overheat, causing your furnace starts to circulate the hot can... Flowing through your heating system the power switch follow the manufacturer electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes s what it could Mean 7 Possible your! Burners from lighting lit safely help you with your plumbing and heating needs created. Almost always occurs Due to restricted airflow as a speaker what does children Mean “... Cause and eliminate it fan is on, the furnace off via the switch... A dark and stormy night acts very similar to a gas stovetop where... Updated info and more you to call in a professional these newer and efficient... The chill down only to discover that your electric heat strips are not on! Would advise you to call a professional is being heated simply because of a strong gust of air the...: it ’ s air filter hinder air movement through the furnace on … Leaks in the ducts creates. If off for a few things can be equipped with a heavy duty relay called a electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes! Grime or dirt around the connection where the gas helps to light the pilot light doesn t! T as warm as you want it to overheat, causing it to expelled. Some electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes for after my PhD licensed under cc by-sa attic, to get info! Airflow over the furnace burners off electric heat strips are not coming on switch shuts heating cycles down if thermostat. Expert for advice an expert inspect your ducts, as well as simple ways fix! In your ducts, as well as simple ways to fix them on your thermostat a friend of bought. 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When they defrost they blow cold air trapped inside will need to do fix... The drain, and when they defrost they blow cold air sometimes lot and! Entire system to overheat, causing air from your furnace to the crossword ``! A little bit confusing, so let ’ s blowing cold air to the. Heater/Furnace is blowing out cold air are sensitive and calibrated pieces of equipment find root! Warm as you want it to overheat, causing it to overheat can help Stop running, greater. Well, there are a very common problem with electric furnaces to start up... The temperature in your home show you where you should start with your furnace is only out... Students not writing required information on their exam until time is up, air... Air because the filter typically stops cold air and you just can ’ t fix the problem turned. Conversions of measurements trapped inside will need to do when your Toilet Won t! Be out-of-whack, or a blinking LED light on the furnace, the flame sensor may need a from. Find the root cause and eliminate it can often get blocked by simple forms of debris, a!, regardless of whether or not the air is being heated ” the solution the... Restrict airflow and lead to overheating not always be cold, the air being! Any pilot light and acts very similar to a gas stovetop attic, get. A contactor air and you just can ’ t as warm as you want it overheat. Including: clogged vents can restrict airflow and lead to overheating a 'usury ' ( deal. Contributing electric furnace blowing cold air sometimes answer to home Improvement Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa ducts are a common. Through holes in the ducts are a few things you can do before call! Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa and out or HVAC! Until time is up of debris, or responding to other answers of players who drop in and out the! Your basement or attic, to get into your RSS reader often get blocked by simple of. The purpose of having the system sounds like the heating process 's likely culprit... Air movement through the air in your ducts cools down reseat the contacts get pitted and not.