hands in front of air vent

Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

Waking up on a cold winter morning in Northern Colorado to a broken furnace is no good. The problem? Your furnace is blowing cold air…but why?
We’ve got the answer. Don’t panic—read on to learn why the furnace in your Northern Colorado home is blowing cold air.

5 Reasons Why Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

Here are 5 of the most common reasons furnaces blow cold air and how to fix it fast.

Furnace Hasn’t Warmed Up

Is this the first time you’ve turned on your furnace this season? Sometimes it takes a bit for your furnace to heat up on the first round each season. If it’s only been a few minutes, don’t panic. It’s normal for cool air to be expelled from the vents at first. If it doesn’t warm up after several minutes, it might be another issue.

Thermostat Is Wrong

If your furnace isn’t blowing warm air after a few minutes, check your thermostat first. Is your unit’s fan set to “on”? If so, the thermostat is likely your culprit because it’s blowing air even when the furnace isn’t heating. Set the thermostat to “auto” and you should be fine.

Flame Sensor Is Dirty

Did neither of the previous solutions fix the problem? Does your furnace have a pilotless ignition? Check the flame sensor. The flame sensor is what keeps a pilotless ignition furnace warm once it starts burning—if it’s dirty, it won’t do its job properly and you’ll be left with cold air.

Pilot Light Is Out

Is your gas furnace older? Does it have a pilot light ignition? Chances are, if it’s blowing cold air, your pilot light has gone out. To fix it, it’s advised that you read the section in the manufacturer’s manual on “how to relight the pilot light” or call your local HVAC technician as soon as possible.

Air Filter Is Dirty

Another culprit of a furnace blowing cold air? A dirty air filter. Dirty air filters limit airflow into your furnace and can cause it to overheat. An overheated furnace will likely blow cold air—so the best solution here is to replace your air filter ASAP with a new, clean filter.

Need an HVAC Technician Near Fort Collins, CO?

When your furnace is blowing cold air—or you are experiencing HVAC issues—you want to call the best technician in town. Good Guys Home Services is always on call and ready to assist you with any furnace issue. We serve homes in and around Fort Collins, Colorado. Contact us today—online or by phone at 970-818-8008—to learn more or schedule an appointment.

We offer year-round HVAC services for heating, cooling, and more throughout Northern Colorado. Located in Fort Collins, we also serve the following areas: Loveland, Ault, Greeley, Denver, Windsor, Boulder, and Longmont, Colorado.

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