Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air? How To Fix [With Pictures]

You have a furnace blowing cold air, which means you are losing money and everyone is bundled up and shivering inside. Sound familiar? A broken furnace is a stressful situation that can make everyone's life difficult. You need to call a furnace repair before it gets worse or before this leads to your furnace not turning on at all. In the meantime, you know that this will happen again next year unless something is done! And if you have a heat pump blowing cold air or room temperature air, our blog about the function of auxiliary heat could be a huge hand to you!

Find relief for the present and future. Once you know how to troubleshoot your furnace not blowing hot air, why it happens, and how to keep it from happening, you'll never be in this situation again. So let's stir up some heat!

First, let's take a closer look at how your furnace works.

How does A Furnace Work?

Let's talk about your HVAC system's heating cycle.

As soon as the indoor temperature drops below the thermostat's set temperature, the thermostat signals the control board inside the furnace to begin the heating process. The combustion process begins by turning on the ignition switch, opening the gas valve, and activating the draft fan. The combustion warms up the furnace's heat exchanger. As a result of the combustion, flue gases are released outside by the heat exchanger and exhaust pipe. A blower fan drives room temperature air past the heat exchanger. The cool air absorbs the heat and and from there is forced through your home's air ducts. Now that you know how the heating process works, let’s investigate what makes your furnace blow cold air.

Furthermore, for any of you business owners out there, we also have a blog on commercial HVAC systems explaining how they differ from residential ones.

If you have a malfunctioning furnace, it may be due to a number of causes, and our HVAC experts have seen it all before!  Let's get into the top reasons why a furnace blows cold air!

Furnace Blowing Cold Air Because Of No Fire

Your furnace not blowing hot air could be due to the ignition failing to start. Without ignited burners, your home will never get heated up! Now that we know where this problem lies- let's take a closer look at what may disrupt the ignition process. 

Bad Thermostat May cause cold air blowing out the vent When heat is on

When it comes to heating your home, the thermostat is a pretty important device. Your thermostat signals your HVAC system to turn on your heat when your home reaches the temperature you set to initiate the heating cycle. 

When the heating cycle is turned on, the thermostat sends a message to the circuit control board inside the furnace. This involves turning on the furnace blower and the furnace burner. This is where problems can arise. If your furnace is blowing cold air, there is a possibility that the thermostat is sending the message to turn on the blower motor, but not the burner. Without activating the burners, the air being blown into your home will not be heated air.

Faulty Circuit Control Board May Explain Heater Blowing Cold Air

In some instances, the culprit could be the circuit control board. Your furnace's circuit control board serves as the brain of the furnace, relaying instructions to its various components. When the circuit control board receives the heating cycle command from the thermostat, it sends out signals to turn on the furnace blower and furnace burner. If the circuit control board is malfunctioning, it could turn the furnace blower on but not the furnace burners. So if your furnace is not blowing hot air, it may be due to the circuit control board not turning on the burners to heat the air.

There are many reasons why a circuit control board can fail, the most common of which is a lack of cleaning and maintenance. And take notice if you have a furnace leaking water. Your circuit control board is at immediate risk for permanent damage. The leaking water might be dripping on your circuit control board, corrupting and disabling its electrical components. It's important to fix a leaky furnace before it causes other problems, such as no heat.

Learn more in our furnace leaking water blog!

Pilot Light going out / Faulty Electric Furnace Ignition

Your furnace could be blowing cold air because of an ignition problem. If you have a broken pilot light / electric furnace ignition, there will be no fire to heat the cold air. This feature is a small flame that ignites the burners. If you have a more modern furnace, you most likely have an electronic furnace ignition. Pilot lights are the standard for older furnaces. If you suspect your pilot light is the reason for your furnace blowing cold air, learn more in our blog discussing why your pilot light keeps going out.

Also, keep in mind that different appliances in your home will have their own pilot lights. For example, a gas fireplace pilot light allows you to manually light its flames.

Gas Furnace Blowing Cold Air From Lack Of Fuel

If your gas furnace is blowing cold air because it fails to ignite, the problem may be with your gas supply. Either the gas valve (for the furnace only; this is not the same as a fireplace gas valve) is bad or you have to refill your gas. If you use propane instead of natural gas, your gas supply will run out with time and you'll have to occasionally refill it in order to keep your home warm.

Furnace Blowing Warm Air, Not Hot, Due To A Triggered Safety Mode 

Do you experience a furnace blowing cold air sometimes, and other times the furnace is blowing hot air? When the furnace gets too hot, a safety mode is triggered to stop the heat from accelerating to a dangerous level. This is what makes the heating inconsistent. Time to learn more!

Overheating Furnace not blowing hot air

Interestingly, if your furnace overheats, you may feel cold air coming from the vents when the heat is on. This is because the safety mode has been activated by the main limit. The main limit is a safety feature inside the furnace that, when it overheats, activates a safety mode to turn off the ignition. A furnace not blowing hot air could be an indication that it is frequently overheating. 

Heater Not blowing Hot air due to faulty main limit 

The main limit is another piece of equipment that, just like any other part, can become dirty or worn. Your furnace blowing cold air may be the result of a faulty main limit switch. As we just went over, the main limit's function is to shut down the ignition process when the component overheats. This is a safety feature meant to protect your household from a dangerously overheating furnace. But if the main limit is not working properly, it can wrongly activate the furnace safety cycle. This can lead to the furnace not blowing hot air consistently.

A Cracked Heat Exchanger May Lead To Cold air coming from the vents when the heat is on 

It is important to mention that your furnace blowing cold air could ultimately derive from a cracked heat exchanger. If the furnace's heat exchanger is cracked, then your household is at immediate risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Read our blog on cracked heat exchangers if you want to learn more.

Restricted Air Flow Makes Heater Blow Cold Air

Your heating system relies on ducts and vents for proper ventilation so that it can work efficiently and effectively. If there is an obstruction or blockage in one of these areas, such as a clogged filter, this will create less airflow, which leads to colder temperatures throughout your home. Let's investigate further!

You Have Cold Air Blowing Out The Vents When The Heat Is On Because of a Dirty Air Filter

Hiding in the filter of your heating system is dirt and debris. If you aren't cleaning it regularly, this will accumulate over time, leading to problems with your heating system's efficiency. Therefore, your furnace blowing cold air could result from a clogged or dirty air filter.  If you have a dirty or clogged furnace filter, the cool air from inside your home will struggle to travel through it and into the furnace. This means you have insufficient air to heat and redistribute. The result is your heater blowing cold air.

Your furnace filter is a critical factor that affects the efficiency of your heating system. We recommend changing furnace filters at least once every three months, but if someone has allergies, or your home has at least one pet, make sure they're cleaned more often to support your HVAC system’s function and efficiency. If you're interested, our furnace filter changeout guide can teach you how to change your filters on your own!

Furnace Not Blowing Hot Air As A Result Of Blocked Supply Airflow

Warm air is blown into your home through supply vents. If your supply vents are blocked by furniture or closed, warm air cannot be distributed in your home. A blocked or closed off vent can disrupt overall airflow and comfort.

Furnace Blowing warm air - not hot - Because There's Not enough air Coming in from Return Vent

A return vent is used to draw air from your home into the air ducts and send it to the furnace for heating. If the vents are blocked by an object, such as furniture, the furnace will not receive air. Your furnace will blow cold air if there is no air to heat and send back into your home.

Another reason you may not be getting enough air flow is if your ductwork is not sized properly. Unfortunately, this is quite common. If your return ductwork is too small, it will not be able to take in the required amount of air. Due to the lack of air flowing through the air duct, your heater will blow cold air.

Gas Furnace Blowing Cold Air Because Of Clogged Coil 

If you have a central AC and a furnace, then the evaporator coil, which is part of the cooling system, is located inside the furnace. In the HVAC’s evaporator coil, heat is absorbed from the surrounding air by the refrigerant. Even though the evaporator coil is used for the cooling cycle, due to its location, all treated air must pass by it to enter the supply duct. Therefore, the air will have difficulty flowing past the evaporator coil if it is dirty or clogged. Even worse, if enough dirt builds up on an evaporator coil, it can obstruct airflow entirely, resulting in your heater blowing cold air.

How To Troubleshoot Furnace Blowing Cold Air

Step 1: Check Thermostat Setting

First and most importantly, make sure your thermostat is set to Heating Mode. Next, verify that the thermostat's fan is set to AUTO, not ON. If it is set to ON, that may be your problem; switch it immediately. The ON setting makes the furnace fan blow continuously, even when the heating cycle is not activated.

Step 2: Evaluate and Adjust Your Vents:

Next, check all of your vents and registers. Make sure they are fully open and no vents are blocked. A closed register or a blocked vent is practically self- sabotage! It's time to usher in fresh warm air.

Step 3: Assess Furnace Filters and Replace Filters If They Are Dirty

A filthy filter disrupts air circulation. Check to see if your furnace filters are dirty or clogged. If so, change them out. We recommend changing your air filter a minimum of every 3 months, or whenever they are dirty.

Step 4: Call An HVAC Pro

Once you've exhausted all troubleshooting methods, you should seek the advice of a certified HVAC technician. When it comes to working with gas and electricity, there is no telling what could go wrong! For your safety and protection, we highly advise against trying to fix the problem yourself. 

How To Prevent Furnace Blowing Cold Air 

Nobody likes to be stuck in the cold. But with this secret weapon against winter, you’ll never have to worry about a sudden cold streak again! A little TLC on your HVAC system can help you avoid the small and the large hiccups that all furnaces can suffer. With regular furnace maintenance, the issues that lead to your heater blowing cold air can be avoided or fixed before you have no heat. 

During an annual maintenance checkup, a certified HVAC technician will inspect and adjust all switches, wires, and connections. During this process, the technician will tighten connections, clean each component, and determine whether any parts need to be replaced. This includes the thermostat, heat exchanger, main limit switch, pilot light, furnace filter, and evaporator coil. To learn more about furnace maintenance and how you can do it yourself, check out our guide on how to do a furnace tune-up. Become proactive in preserving your comfort. Schedule your annual heating maintenance today.

Peace & Warmth This Winter

So, what caused your furnace problem? Recently, have any HVAC contractors come out for furnace maintenance or repairs? If they haven't, make sure you select Baltimore's best heating contractor for your assistance!

We hope you've gained some insight into what may be going on with your furnace, and we're happy to help. Our HVAC experts have extensive experience restoring comfort to our community. In addition to furnace repairs, we also offer reliable maintenance plans designed to keep you cozy all winter long without having to worry about expensive repairs down the line. 

Call or schedule an appointment online today so that one of our heating experts can come out, diagnose the problem, and provide the right solution!