What To Do When Your Heating System Is Blowing Out Cold Air (One Easy Fix)
An HVAC system is made up of many parts that work together to give your home warm, comfortable air. Just one slight error in any of the dozens of delicate components will cause your entire heating unit to malfunction.
However, there is ONE simple way to fix 80% of all heater problems – and you can do it yourself!
What to do when your heating system is blowing out cold air
Most of the time, your heater releases cold air because the air filter is dirty. Every heating system has at least one air filter between the inlet and outlet ducts.
When left unchecked, the filter will accumulate dust, fur, and other pollutants. The furnace will have insufficient ventilation to produce heat, but the fan will continue to blow and circulate cold air into your rooms.
The blockage will also cause the heat exchanger (the part responsible for transferring heat indoors) to overheat.
This will drive the limit switch to trip, effectively shutting off the entire heating unit, causing it to release cold air instead.
How to clean your heater’s air filter
- Switch off the thermostat and your heating system.
- Locate the air filter.
- Take a photo of the parts with your phone. This will be helpful later on when reinserting the filter in the right direction.
Tip: You can also mark the airflow’s direction with a Sharpie for future reference.
- Remove the air filter. Some models have the filter behind a service panel that you must take out first.
- If the filter is reusable (plastic frame), rinse it with water and let it dry completely. A disposable filter (cardboard frame) must be replaced with a new one.
- Reinstall everything back the same way you removed them.
How often should I clean the air filter?
You should clean your home air filters once every month, though it depends on your specific filter’s shelf life. More expensive ones can last up to 3 months, so be sure to check the filter’s label.
You should never forget to clean the air filter if your home has pets. Dust, fur, and bacteria can grow on a blocked filter, which can be especially harmful to people with allergies.
Other possible reasons why your heater is blowing cold air
If you’re still feeling cold air even after cleaning the air filter, there is likely a serious, underlying issue with your HVAC unit. Among those are:
- Component failure (thermostat, circuit board, igniter, limit switch, etc.)
- Heat pump issues
- Insufficient gas supply or leaking ducts
- Blocked vents
- Clogged coils
You should call a professional for an inspection because if these issues are left unchecked, they could cost you hundreds in repair costs.
Avoid costly mistakes, call a trained professional
The inner components of a heating system are highly sensitive; even the slightest bump can result in system malfunction.
Should you break any vital components, you may have to replace the entire unit, which can cost thousands of dollars.
Leave the issues with your heater in trained professionals’ hands.
Contact Alpha Air’s specialists now at 1300 754 525 or request a free service call to get your heaters fixed, worry-free.
