If you're experiencing furnace troubles, you may be concerned about high repair bills. You may even be thinking system replacement if your furnace is more than 10-years old. While cool air blowing from your furnace or rapid cycling are signs your furnace needs TLC, it may be a matter of simple furnace troubleshooting techniques.
The thermostat is your communication portal to your HVAC system. Are you sending the right signal regarding heating, cooling and ventilation? Check to see if your thermostat is set to HEAT and above room temperature.
Another problem that can be caused by your thermostat setting is cold air blowing from the vents. The ON/AUTO settings on your thermostat signal the blower to operate all the time (i.e. ON), even when your heat pump or furnace isn't heating. The AUTO setting tells the blower to only operate during HEAT cycles. You'll feel cooler air from the vents in the ON setting due to airflow heat loss inside the air ducts and due to leaks in your home's envelope. Set your thermostat to AUTO for a simple fix. A more serious problem that causes cold air to blow from the vents is that your furnace is overheating. This is often caused by airflow obstruction from a clogged air filter. Once the furnace overheats, heating is turned off but the blower continues to blow air to cool it off. Make sure your filter is changed regularly during peak usage to avoid this and other problems.
Heat pumps are efficient heating and cooling units, but they need troubleshooting sometimes, too. One common problem is ice accumulation on the coil located in the outdoor cabinet. It's not the cold weather creating the ice. It's incorrect refrigerant levels inside the heat pump. Ice accumulation prevents heat exchange, and you may experience cooler air blowing from the vents. Turn off your heat pump and call your HVAC professional for service. If you're not having any success with these furnace troubleshooting tips for your southeast Virginia, contact Russell's Heating & Cooling to speak with an HVAC professional. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 757-750-1831. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “maksim-kabakou/Shutterstock”