Why is my Commercial Unit Blowing Cold Air?
According to the Association for Psychological Science (APS), workers in frigid spaces have decreased social interaction and are also more prone to errors. If your furnace is blowing cold air, your employees may be huddled up and not really getting any work done. Why is your HVAC unit producing cool air rather than warm? We’ll look at some of the more common causes below.
Thermostat is Set to Cooling
Perhaps there was a recent warm spell, and you forgot to change the thermostat back afterwards. Or maybe that one employee who’s always hot has been messing with it again. Before you panic, ensure your thermostat hasn’t inadvertently gotten switched over to cooling. Next, check to see that the temperature is high enough to trigger the unit’s heating responses.
You Haven’t Waited Long Enough
It takes a few moments for your system to begin producing warm air once it kicks on. Accordingly, all units will push out some cold air in the beginning. This should only last a couple of minutes, so if you are still feeling cold air after that, then you likely have a bigger problem.
Faulty Ignition Switch
Your thermostat tells the ignition switch to engage whenever the indoor temperature dips below its pre-set level. This switch can possibly ignite hundreds of times each day. So after a period of years, the switch can easily become worn. Furthermore, dirty switches may not fully receive the signal that tells them it is time to get to work.
Commercial systems often have multiple units that each have their own ignition switch. Accordingly, it’s possible that one switch may be faulty while the others are working just fine. This is very likely the case if you notice cool air coming from some but not all of your registers.
Bad Circuit Control Board
The ignition switch takes its cues directly from the circuit control board. As the command center of your HVAC system, your circuit board is responsible for all its functions, including heating and cooling. As with any part, the control board can wear out over time. Dust, dirt, debris, and pet dander can also prevent the control board from sending and receiving the right signals. In that case, a thorough cleaning by our technicians may get you back up and running again.
Safety Mode Has Been Activated
Newer models are equipped with a safety feature that reduces the amount of hot air a system can produce should it overheat. In that case, you may feel cool air coming from your vents initially that later turns only warm rather than hot. If you suspect your safety switch has been activated, do not attempt to reset it yourself. Instead, contact us for a full inspection so we can determine what triggered the safety feature in the first place.
Pilot Light is Out/No Fuel
Gas and oil models often have a pilot light that must be ignited before your system can produce warm air. Sometimes the light goes out because of a draft, but other times it’s because there is no fuel to keep it burning. Relighting a pilot light sounds easy; however, it should only be done by someone who is experienced at doing so. Once you have confirmed that a lack of fuel is not the problem, please contact us immediately for assistance.
Helping you Keep the Fires Burning This Winter
The correct maintenance will significantly reduce the odds that you will experience one of the above problems. As such, you can prevent future repairs and keep your employees happy all at the same time. Don’t wait until you feel your unit blowing cold air instead of warm. Instead, contact South Jersey Heating and Cooling today to schedule your appointment.
