Reasons Your Heater is Blowing Cold Air & Ways to Fix
If your ducted gas heater is blowing cold air, there are reasons why and there are also ways to fix the problems, which may be minor or major. Be aware, though, that it can take 30 minutes to an hour for the heater to blow warm air, which might be a reason for the unit to blow cold air instead of warm.
If the problem is your heater blowing cold air, call us at Gas Safe Heating Cooling & Plumbing. We advise our customers to get their ducted heating system checked by one of our professionals as soon as possible if your heater blows cold air consistently.
Gas Heater Troubleshooting Tips
If your heater is blowing cold air, you need to know the reasons why. It could be a thermostat problem, filters, the pilot light, or other issues. Check out the troubleshooting tips listed here so you know what may be wrong with your heater if it starts to blow cold air.
If none of these tips apply or you feel more secure letting the experts check it out, call Gas Safe Plumbing. The problem could be any of the following:
The Pilot Light is Out
The most common reason heating systems blow cold air is that the pilot light is out. The reasons may be a faulty thermocouple, clogging or other problems in the appliance. Pilot lights are needed to ignite the gas that allows the system to blow warm air through the ducts.
Call Gas Safe Plumbing so a professional can find the reason for the pilot light on your heater going out and if there’s a problem with the ignition. We may need to carry out maintenance or repairs or replace parts.
Check the Thermostat’s Fan Setting, Batteries
The thermostat is vital to control heating, and it can have many problems that can cause the heater to blow cold air rather than warm. The thermostat setting that controls heat may be switched off; the switch may be faulty, or batteries need replacement.
Dirty, Clogged Air Filters
Heating systems have at least one air filter between the inlet ducts and the outlet ducts. Air filters capture the particles in the air so that clean air goes into your home.
However, if air filters are not cleaned or replaced periodically, you end up with a clogged filter, which may be the reason your heater is blowing cold air instead of warm. Air filters, on average, should be cleaned or changed every three months of dirt buildup.
Why Are Clean Filters So Important?
Clogged air filters are a common problem if they’re not cleaned or replaced often enough. The reasons are that without enough ventilation to heat the air, the fan keeps circulating cold air. Clogged filters can also affect the heat exchanger (which transfers the heat indoors), causing them to overheat, which trips the limit switch, which then shuts off the heating unit resulting in blowing cool air.
If you have pets, it’s crucial that the air filters on your heating system are cleaned or replaced regularly since fur, dander, dust, viruses and germs can gather and block the airflow, as mentioned above. Circulating air that’s laden with these pollutants can be harmful if any family members in your home suffer from allergies.
An Easy Fix - Clean Your Heater’s Air Filters
Be aware that you may void your manufacturer’s warranty if you do the following yourself rather than call in the experts, so check the user manual. The components of your system are very sensitive, so we don’t recommend you do this yourself. However, follow these instructions if you decide to take it on, and your warranty is not voided.
Cleaning and Changing the heater’s Filters:
Turn off the heating system and thermostat.
Find the air filter (check the manual)
Before you remove anything, take a photograph on your mobile so you can check it later when putting everything back together to make sure you get it right. If you have a helper, they could video the procedure.
Tip: For future reference, mark the direction of the airflow with a permanent marker.
Take the air filter out carefully. If your heater’s filter is behind the service panel, you will need to remove that first.
If the filter has a plastic frame and is reusable, rinse it in cold water and allow it to completely dry. If yours is a disposable filter with a cardboard frame, you have to replace it with a new filter.
Then put everything back the way you found it using your photograph and/or video as a guide.
Other Possible Reasons Why Your Heater Blows Cold Air
If your heater is still blowing cold air, the reason could be a serious underlying problem that only a professional can fix. Some of the serious problems include:
Failure of a component such as a circuit board, limit switch, igniter or thermostat.
Vent blockages, dirty air filter
Problems with the heat pump
Not enough gas supply (supply pipe blockage or leak)
Leaking ducts
Coils clogged
If your heater is not working properly, call Gas Safe Heating Cooling & Plumbing as soon as possible. If you don’t get it early, it could cost you a lot of money in repairs down the track. Contact us here or call 0459 788 870 for all your heating needs.
