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It can be frustrating to find out that your furnace is not blowing hot air when you really need to keep your home warm. So, what should you do for your house heater not blowing hot air? In this article we will look at the common reasons for your heater not blowing hot air and how to fix them. But before we dive into details, let’s look at how a house theater works so that we can better understand how to fix these problems.
How Does a House Heater Work?
A home heat pump works by drawing heat from the outside air and transferring it to your indoor air. This heater is typically installed outside your home. A heat pumps heats your home by using the refrigerant to transfer heat from outside into your home.
It works pretty much like air conditioner does but in reverse. Instead of cooling your home, its heats your home. In fact, a heat pump works both as an air conditioning when you need cooling and also as a heater when you need heating.
However, heat pumps are efficient in regions with mild climates. In colder climates, they may be complemented with an electrical handler that is installed in the inside of your home. The electrical handler has heat strips that warm the air before distributing it around your home.
Unlike furnaces, heat pumps do not burn fossil fuels to heat your home, instead they are powered by electricity, making them more environmentally friendly.
There are many reasons why your heater has stopped working or is not just blowing hot air. Let’s look at the top common ones.
Read also: Furnace Not Blowing Air Through Vents [5 Easy Solutions]
8 Possible Reasons for Your House Heater Not Blowing Hot Air
1)Heat Pump Has a Leaking or Low Refrigerant
Your house heat pump uses the refrigerant to bring about heating in your home. When there is a low level of the refrigerant or it is leaking out of the heating system, then not enough heat will be transferred from the outdoor air into your home.
Remember, a heat pump handles both cooling and heating of your home using the refrigerant. In this case more refrigerant maybe needed but this may require a professional to do the job. If you think there is little or no refrigerant in your HVAC unit, it is smart to call a professional to come and take a look.
2) Thermostat Setting
Check the thermostat which controls your HVAC system. Your heater won’t start because of the temperature setting on the thermostat. It will only start when the temperature set on your thermostat is reached.
Make sure the thermostat is not set to cooling. It should either be on heating or auto. If you correct this issue, your heater should be up running right away. If it doesn’t, you might have a faulty thermostat. And if your thermostat is powered by batteries, it may need batteries replacement.
3)Dirty or Clogged Air Filters
Manufacturers say pleated filters are good for 3 months but if you have pets or lots of dust it’s a good idea changing them often. Air filters are found at the return air vents. These can quickly become clogged because they trap dust and pollen.
Clogged air filters restrict the flow of air and can cause your heating system to overheat. When this happens, the HVAC’s safety measures can cut off power to your heater and you won’t have warm air circulating around your home.
Replacing your air filters will not only make your HVAC system more efficient, it will also prevent more costly repairs.
4)Check Shut Off Switches or Breakers
Make sure you check the electrical circuit breaker if any fuses have tripped. Sometimes your HVAC safety measures can cut off power to your heating system. Besides that, your heater’s heating strips could also be malfunctioning which can prevent your heater from blowing hot air.
5) Registers Are Blocked
Where there is no hot air coming out of vents in house then registers could be blocked. Clogged Register cause similar problems as dirty or clogged filters cause. Since there is limited supply of air. If your heating system can’t take in enough air, it won’t be able to distribute enough warm air in your home.
You may have blocked registers especially if there is only one room that is cooler than the others. Registers could be closed by accident.
6)Dirty Condenser Unit.
Leaves and debris can accumulate around the fins of your outdoor compressor unit. This can make the unit inefficient as the transfer of heat between the outdoor air and your home is affected. Make sure to clear away grass and leaves from the fins of the compressor especially before the wintertime.
7) Leaks in the Ductwork.
When there is leaking in the ductwork or when there is not proper insulation, then the heating in your home could be affected. Your heater may not be supplying the heat that it should. In this case it will overwork to try and make your home feel warm.
Check that there are no leaks in the ductwork. Sometimes rodents can create leaks in the ductwork which can affect the way your heating system works.
8) Maintenance
Your HVAC system needs regular maintenance just like any other machines. Make sure you change filters often, have a technician check your heating unit and its other components from time to time to ensure that it still is in good working condition
It is recommended to have maintenance tune up twice a year. Maintenance will not only keep your HVAC system running efficiently, it will also bring down the risk of unexpected break downs and more costly repairs.
Conclusion
With the mild winter in season, you expect your heater to be running well. However, when a problem of your House heater not blowing hot air comes on, your home could be getting unbearably cold. Many times, when this problem comes on, it can be fixed without having to call an expert. But if you are unsure about what to do, then calling a professional is in order.
HVAC tech with over 30 years of experience. Retired and doing repair work on the side around Madison County, AL.
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