Even on the crisp blue-sky days in Waltham, winter in the Greater Boston is cold. When you come home and expect to walk into a warm and cozy space the last thing you want to find is your furnace blowing cold air. Here we discuss some troubleshooting options you can take before calling a professional.
The Temperamental Thermostat
False Temperature Readings
Placement is important. If your thermostat is in direct sunlight, you are almost certain to get inaccurate readings. The solar heat prevents your thermostat from engaging your furnace when you need it.
The ideal location for a thermostat is away from windows and exterior doors. Placing your thermostat on an interior wall, in the central-most room of your home allows the thermostat to read centrally circulating air which, in turn, provides you with the best average home temperature.
Setting Specifics
Depending on your thermostat, there are a few setting considerations that might be contributing to the furnace blowing cold air:
Programmable Thermostat Settings:
If you use a scheduling feature make sure that the settings of your thermostat are programmed correctly. Keep in mind factors that can affect daily temperatures such as: daylight saving time, fluctuations in daily routines, the change of seasons, etc.
Heating, Cooling, Fan, Auto:
With multiple features, a thermostat may be on the wrong setting. For a number of reasons, it’s easy to forget about the thermostat. Check if the settings are aligned, and if they are not, this is likely causing the furnace to blow cold air. Our recommendation is choosing auto, your thermostat will automatically change between cooling or heating as temperatures change.
Check for responsiveness:
Is your thermostat responding to the changes you are making? Adjusting your thermostat may be the quick fix for solving the furnace issue or it might indicate a larger concern. Take the time to make sure your thermostat is functioning properly.
The Warm Up
It might seem silly, but furnaces need to warm up just like us. Before going on a long run or playing a soccer match, athletes warm up their bodies to avoid injury. When your furnace turns on, it takes a few moments to warm up before performing at peak performance. However, the delay should be short and warm air should be blowing after a few minutes.
Dirty Filters
Checking air filters regularly is important for keeping your HVAC system working optimally. A few symptoms may indicate dirty air filters including a cooler temperature than usual for you home, weak air flow, air vents look dirty and furnace malfunctions. Regularly checking, cleaning or replacing filters will make your heating system more efficient, extend the life of your furnace and reduce your energy bills. During regular maintenance, our service technicians can share how to change filters.
The Pilot Light is Out
Since the 1990s, there has been a shift to using pilotless ignitions systems. If you have an older model furnace, however, and your furnace is blowing cold air, you will want to check the pilot light. If, after following the manufacturer’s directions on how to relight the pilot doesn’t work, then it is time to call in the professionals at Genove Oil and Air. In the meantime, read our blog about when it’s time to upgrade to a new furnance.
Closed Vents
Depending on how many people you live with, there may be many diverse temperature preferences. While closed air vents can seem like a quick fix to someone who wants their room cooler, there can be significant implications. Furnaces are installed with size in mind. The number of vents in your home is specific to the responsibility of your HVAC. When vents are closed, furnaces can overheat and deviate from the most effective cycle plan.
Many furnace issues can be prevented with regularly-scheduled annual maintenance. These tune-ups can help you prevent unexpected system failures
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If your question isn’t answered here, contact the friendly team at Genove Oil & Air, and we’ll find a solution for your home or business.
Whether you need home heating oil or Bioheat delivery, or installation and service of oil & natural gas systems for HVAC, heating, and cooling—call us at 781-893-9191 or email us.
