Did you notice that your furnace is not blowing hot air? This can happen due to malfunction of one of the components. Make sure the pilot light is lighted, check the thermostat twice, and replace the filter if it has been more than three months. Examine the burners, fuel supply, flame sensor, condensate line, and high limit switch if it’s still not functioning correctly. Frequent maintenance maintains the cleanliness and functionality of your furnace.
It’s time to get the experts involved if the issue continues. The last thing you want is for the temperature inside to decrease when it lowers outside. If your furnace is not producing hot air, be sure to inspect the fuel supply, thermostat, filter, and pilot light. If you know where to seek, your issue could have an easy solution.
My furnace isn’t blowing hot air; why is that?
Whichever furnace you have—gas, electric, propane, or do-it-yourself outside wood-burning—you want it to heat your room efficiently. However, you should respond if you discover that there is genuinely a lot of commotion and no warm air. See where the issue is and what you can do to fix it by looking at some of the most typical issues that arise with the parts of your heating system.
1. Thermostat not working properly
The purpose of the wall thermostat is to assist you in keeping your house at a pleasant, consistent temperature. However, you will sense if anything is wrong with it. The thermostat is a sensible place to start when troubleshooting your furnace since it is related to your HVAC system.
- Is the thermostat fully charged and operating with brand-new batteries?
- Is the temperature properly set?
- Is the fan on AUTO and the heat on?
- Is your furnace compatible with the thermostat?
2. Unclean Filter
How recently was the furnace filter changed? You wouldn’t be the only one if you completely forgot about that HVAC system component, but the time to remember it is now.
All the dust, debris, and pet hair that could be floating about your house is collected by furnace filters. After the filter gathers the undesirable particles, air rushes past it and exits via the wall or floor registers of your forced-air heating system. A filthy or clogged furnace filter may cause the whole system to bog down and start operating inefficiently. It’s time to take the filter out for a brief check if you haven’t replaced it in the last six months.
3. Fuel or supply valve issues
The proper fuel is necessary for your furnace to continue operating at peak efficiency. If there’s no hot air coming out of your gas furnace, there could be an issue with the gas supply valve. Furnaces that run on propane or oil need frequent refilling. A tripped switch on the breaker panel may also be the cause of malfunctioning electric furnaces.
Determine the sort of furnace you own, check that the fuel is in it, and make sure the connections are made correctly.
4. Pilot Light Not Ignited
Make sure you examine your gas furnace to determine if the pilot light has gone out if it does. If this little flame goes out, there won’t be any furnace ignition since it ignites the gas the furnace utilizes as fuel. The pilot light may have been unintentionally extinguished by a strong wind or it may have been obstructed by dirt and dust, which would prohibit it from receiving the gas stream necessary to operate.
5. Blocked Burner
Your furnace’s burner is what provides the air heating. Warm air may cease blowing from an otherwise functional furnace due to blocked burners. Examine the burner for any debris or obstructions that could be keeping it from igniting.
6. Faulty Sensor
Flame sensors keep an eye on the fuel in your furnace; if they detect a flame, they know to let the fuel flow; if not, they shut off the fuel. Even though this is an excellent safety feature, the capacity of your furnace to produce hot air will be compromised by a filthy, blocked, or otherwise defective flame sensor.
7. Malfunctioning High Limit Switch
There are other safety features in your furnace that may be interfering with its operation besides the flame sensor. The blower fan is controlled by the high limit switch. The limit switch activates the fan to distribute the comfortable, warm air around the house if the air temperature is at the proper level. However, the high limit switch activates to close the gas valve if the air temperature rises too much, and the furnace overheats. It has the potential to enter lockdown mode if it detects overheating too often.
8. Blocked Line for Condensate
The condensing water vapor produced by burning natural gas is drained via the condensate line. Your system may shut down if the trap on the condensate line becomes clogged, tripping a float switch.
9. Broken or leaky ducts
Let’s go beyond your furnace! Have you thought that the air ducts may be the source of the issue instead? Cold air might seep via cracks, leaks, or missing connections and exit your house through the registers. Verifying sure every duct is securely installed and undamaged may help identify the problem’s origin.
Simple Fixes for Furnaces
After receiving a crash course on the many problems that might arise from a furnace that isn’t producing hot air, it’s time to figure out how to fix it.
Inspect the thermostat
Make sure your thermostat is switched on, set to “heat,” and has the fan set to AUTO before continuing. Don’t forget to change the batteries. Allow the air to exit to warm up for a few minutes.
Remember that you won’t have an effective HVAC system if your furnace isn’t the right size for your house or if the thermostat isn’t compatible with it. To ensure that everything is installed correctly, you should have a furnace specialist inspect the system. If not, it may be time to begin setting up money for a new furnace.
Change the Filter
Changing the filter on the furnace is another simple remedy. Establishing a routine for filter replacements is a smart move if you want to keep your furnace in excellent working order and avoid future issues. A general rule of thumb is to replace every one to three months, although more regular changes can be necessary if you have dogs or are suffering with allergies.
Examine the Fuel Source
Is the furnace made of oil? Turn it off. Furnace powered by propane? Turn it off. Natural gas? Just make sure the gas valve is open and functioning correctly and don’t top it off. Additionally, if your furnace is electric, verify sure it is powered on, that no fuses have blown, and that no breakers have been tripped.
Relight the Pilot
Usually located around the bottom of the furnace’s front, the pilot light is located there. Before turning it back on, ensure sure any leftover gas has evaporated by shutting off the gas valve there for three minutes. To restart the pilot light, flip the switch to the “pilot” position and press the reset button.
Always use care while working with natural gas, remember? Shut off the gas, go outdoors, and give the gas company a call if you smell gas. If you keep trying to ignite the pilot, something can blow up.
Fix the Ducts
Seal any leaks you found during your air duct inspection. To be sure there are no leaks, you may even completely rebuild the ducts.
For tiny sections of the ductwork, the cost of replacing an air duct may be as little as a few hundred dollars, but if a complete replacement is required, the price can reach the thousands. All things considered, if you’re having trouble keeping your house cozy, it’s a wise purchase.