Your furnace is the very piece of equipment that gives you comfort in the midst of an unrelenting cold weather. Just like any other appliance, it may fail at some point, blowing cold air instead of warm. Knowing your furnace and what causes it to break down will give you an idea if you can fix the problem yourself or if it’s time to call a professional.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is a leading heating company in Roseville, MN that employs only the best technicians who know their craft full well. We can help you diagnose and repair your furnace and restore that toasty environment in your home in no time.
Here are some of the common reasons for a furnace to blow cold air.
Clogged Filters
The main function of a furnace filter is to protect the blower fan from accumulating dust, debris, hair, and other particles that can cause it to be clogged. Acongested filter can cause a furnace to turn itself off. Dirty filters are the most common cause of furnace issues. Dust and debris restrict airflow, and when the filter gets too clogged, the heat exchanger will overheat and shut off too quickly, which results in your home not being properly heated.
Also, all the dust and debris accumulated by the filter will force the furnace to work hard and use more energy to heat your home. Regularly cleaning your filter protects your furnace from being damaged and ultimately, shutting down completely.
A Faulty Thermostat
A thermostat’s job is to control the temperature in your home. It measures your home’s temperature and uses that information to activate your furnace or air conditioner, depending on the thermostat’s setting.
A faulty thermostat wiring, accumulation of dust, and other factors can cause your thermostat to fail, making it unable to properly communicate with your furnace and control your home’s temperature. When a thermostat malfunctions, it will cause your furnace to produce inconsistent heat, to cycle on and off more frequently than it should, or to stop producing heat completely.
Ductwork Problems
Most people tend to overlook their ducts. But these components are essential in delivering heated air throughout your home. The lack of or improper maintenance can cause your furnace to work harder in producing heat, which affects your overall comfort and resulting in higher heating bills.
The average U.S. home loses about 20 to 40 percent of the air that circulates through its ducts, which causes major heating issues. In addition to allowing heated air to escape, leaking ducts also allow outdoor pollutants to enter your home through your ductwork, negatively affecting your indoor air quality.
Pilot Light or Ignition Control Issues
Most modern furnaces use an electronic ignition system that produces a spark to light the pilot, which serves as the ignition point when gas flows into the heating system. Ignition problems can be exposed by turning the power off to the furnace and resetting the circuit breakers.
When your furnace’s ignition control is flawed, it can diminish your heating system’s ability to work properly, shutting down the furnace entirely. If your furnace has a standing pilot light, a faulty thermocouple can cause pilot light issues since the thermocouple is responsible for detecting whether the pilot light is functioning. If the pilot light goes out, the furnace has no way of turning on the heat.
Blower Motor Problems
Your furnace’s blower is responsible for the heated air to reach its intended destination. It is the part of your furnace that circulates the heated air throughout your home. If the blower motor is faulty, your furnace has no ability to circulate warm air. The furnace may ignite and engage properly, but a malfunctioning blower motor will not kick in and no air will move around.
Professional Furnace Repair from Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
Keeping your furnace properly maintained will help avoid these problems and enable your furnace to work more efficiently and effortlessly. Of course, when your furnace works at peak performance, you will have greater comfort and peace of mind.
For professional Fridley furnace repair, call our experts at Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. Our technicians are highly trained and certified to repair any furnace brand and model. We work hard in providing not just great workmanship but more importantly, unparalleled customer care.