Freezing temperatures have made their way to the Charlotte area. If you’ve noticed your furnace blowing cold air, you could be in for a long, uncomfortable winter. Here are Patterson’s top 3 reasons your heating system is blowing cold air.
Possible ignition failure
Older gas fueled systems may have a pilot light as an ignition source, while newer systems use a hot surface igniter or a spark ignition control. If the ignition source fails, your home will be without heat. You can relight your pilot light if it’s blown out, whereas newer systems lockout and need to be powered off and on to reset. If that doesn’t work, however, there may be a stoppage in the propane or natural gas fuel.
A few things you can check:
• See if your clothes dryer other gas fueled appliances are working
• Make sure the heating system fuel supply valve is turned on
• Check with your local natural gas company to make sure they haven’t stopped the fuel supply for any reason
If you still can’t find the source of the problem, it’s time to call the team at Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning for a furnace inspection.
Thermostat set to ON in Charlotte, NC
It makes sense for your thermostat to be set to ON, right? Why on earth wouldn’t you want your heating system to be turned on in winter? Well, it turns out that using this setting during winter could result in your furnace blowing cold air. Setting your thermostat to ON tells the furnace fan to spin non-stop. Unfortunately, your furnace itself does not produce heat non-stop. As a result, you’ll periodically feel chilly, unheated air blowing through your home. Instead, set your fan to AUTO, select the HEAT setting and choose your preferred temperature.
Furnace blowing cold air: Check the air filter
A clogged or dirty air filter is any HVAC system’s worst enemy. Clogged air filters reduce airflow through the ductwork. This in turn can cause premature heat exchanger failure. Make sure to change your filter at least once a month to keep your furnace blowing clean, heated air all winter long.
For all of your furnace maintenance needs this winter, call Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning today!
