Air Conditioning and Heating in Arizona: Why is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air Instead of Heat?

furnace-blowing-cold-air-instead-of-heat There is nothing as relaxing as walking into a perfectly heated home when it’s bitter cold outside in the winter. But when your furnace is blowing cold air instead of heat – this can cause multiple problems. Heating system issues rank on a level playing field with visits to the IRS, or the dentist as items that cause Scottsdale residents tremendous stress. If this has or is currently happening to you, it’s important to know why a furnace blowing cold air instead of heat happens, so you can understand if there are simple things you can do to fix it – or make the phone call to your furnace repair specialist.

Here are some facts to consider.

First – What Causes It?

Typically, most furnace issues are caused by minor issues that can be quickly remedied by homeowners. The top three reasons why a furnace might be blowing cold air instead of warm are include:

The Thermostat is set to ‘ON’: ask any professional heating repair man what the first item they check when they are on a heating repair call and most of them will reply ‘the thermostat’. Whether it’s turned off, out of calibration or simply set in the ‘on’ position, this can cause the furnace to blow cold air instead of warm. The solution here is to turn the thermostat to the ‘Auto’ position and make sure it’s set to “heat”.

The furnace is overheated: sometimes even a furnace can get too hot. If your furnace is blowing hot air, then it starts to blow cool air the issue is most likely an overheating situation. The primary cause for a furnace overheating is that it is blocked with dirty filters. Although replacing air filters is rather simple, when this occurs, the best solution is to shut off your furnace and contact the heating repair company.

The pilot light is out: the final main reason why a furnace stops heating is that the pilot light has extinguished. If it is, there is a proper procedure to follow. First, try to relight the pilot light. If the flame stays lit – the problem might be solved. If it does not, the issue is most likely a gas leak, which can lead to an emergency HVAC call. Don’t delay – contact the heating company as soon as possible especially if you smell gas.

Second – How to Fix It?

If you’ve checked the above three common issues and still are baffled as to why your furnace is blowing cool air; the next step is to contact the furnace repair company. These minor issues above can be easily fixed by homeowners, but when the furnace is blowing cool air frequently – it can be a warning sign as to a potential major issue.

Third – Always Activate Preventative Maintenance to Avoid Issues

Just like any other mechanical system, activating a regular heating maintenance program and having your furnace inspected once per year is a great way to avoid stress-causing situations. Most of the time a professional HVAC service company in Scottsdale has the right equipment, tools, and time to set up an appointment and make sure your furnace is ready to go – before the cold weather hits. Be proactive about your furnace repair this season and set up an appointment to have your unit tuned up today.

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Our heating technicians at Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling can provide valuable and easy to understand repair and maintenance guidance. Contact us or call 480.359.7141 today!