Troubleshooting a furnace can take a while. One problem you may start to notice is if it blows out cool air. In the midst of the cold winter season, the furnace plays a critical role in keeping your home warm so you and your family can live comfortably. If not for well-functioning furnaces, many households in the US risk exposure to low temperatures that can put their health at risk. In this case, you have to make sure that you are prompt with making necessary replacements and maintenance checks.
Common Cause #1
If you find that your furnace is not blowing out enough hot air in the home, you can go ahead and conduct some basic inspection to see where the problem is occurring. The first thing that you need to check is the air filter inside the furnace. This is one of the most common causes of a non-functioning furnace.
Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest problems to resolve because replacing an air filter inside a furnace is a very cost-effective task as they are not too pricey. In most cases, when you run out an air filter past its lifespan, it starts disrupting the airflow inside the outlet.
Without sufficient airflow, the burners inside the furnace become unable to function, and they refuse to turn on. Without the burners ignited, the airflow blowing out of your vents does not turn hot. Therefore, timely air filter replacements can be pivotal.
Common Cause #2
To know about the second common cause, you have to remove the cover plate of the furnace for inspection. In most cases, removing the cover plate is as simple as removing twisting the knob around. In other cases, you may need the help of a technician.
Once you pull the cover plate off and set it in a safe location, you will become exposed to the inner workings of your furnace. Inside the cover plate, you will find plenty of wires and components. Among wires, you will have to locate a limit switch.
This limit switch is incredibly important because it does two critical functions. The first thing it does is that does not allow the furnace to turn on until the air inside the furnace is warm. The second important thing it does is that it acts as a kill switch for the burner if the air temperature around the actual heat exchanger becomes very high.
Troubleshooting Common Cause #3
The third common cause of a furnace blowing cold air is an igniter. If you go to the tip of the burner tube, you will notice a little tab sticking out. On the bottom portion of this tab, you will have an electrical connection and wire that feeds all the way around the furnace. Over time, your igniter will fail, and your furnace will never be able to heat the air.
All of the above-mentioned inspections will require you to seek assistance from a certified technician. There are even other causes of a faulty furnace, and you will have to make special arrangements for that.
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