It’s not uncommon for Portland residents such as yourself to switch on their furnaces, only to feel cold air billowing from their vents. Total bummer, we know, but you’re not alone. In fact, this conundrum is not even unique to Portland residents and can be caused by a number of issues. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Pilot Light / Ignition: If your furnace is blowing cold air, the first thing you’ll want to do is mosey on over to the furnace itself and make sure that your pilot light is still on. If it’s not, don’t panic. Most systems have safety features that shut down the gas flow when the pilot light goes out. Still, you’re going to want to turn the furnace off and rotate the gas valve to the off position, too. (If you do smell gas, be sure to open windows or do whatever you need to do to clear the air.) Now, if you’re comfortable with it, you can relight your pilot light. If not, give us a call. If this happens repeatedly, there’s likely a problem with your ignition system. Definitely reach out if you suspect that you have an issue with your ignition system because we can fix it right up and save you a lot of hassle.
- Gas Supply: When a furnace doesn’t receive a steady supply of gas, it can shut down (kind of like it does when your pilot light goes out). Check to make sure that your gas supply isn’t turned off and if it’s not, give us a call to see what’s going on.
- Damaged Ducting: Holes and cracks in your air ducts will allow hot air to escape into your crawlspace or attic (or outside). This can definitely make it seem like your furnace isn’t working properly, but a professional inspection can rule this out or pinpoint problem areas. If Wolcott’s HVAC pros do find any holes in your ductwork, you’re in luck because we’re darn good at fixing them.
- Fan On: If your thermostat’s fan setting is switched to “on” (instead of “auto”) then your fan will run around the clock, regardless of whether your furnace is actively heating the air.
- Patience is a Virtue: Sometimes, the simplest answer is the right one. Like when your furnace just needs a minute to warm up and/or is blowing out the cool air that has been sitting in the ducts. If it never gets warm, though, you’re gonna need our help.
Of course, there are other possible reasons your furnace isn’t as hot as it used to be (this sometimes happens with age, you know) but we’ll get to the bottom of it. Visit wolcott.pro to learn about all of our heating & cooling services, including our furnace tune-ups, a customer fav.
