Picture this: The holiday season is quickly approaching and there are many things on your to-do list. Family gatherings, holiday parties, and gingerbread house making are all planned, but you notice your home is colder than it should be. Your furnace is blowing cold air, and you can already feel yourself waking up to a runny nose.

Your furnace plays a large behind the scenes role in all your holiday activities, and it is important to ensure it is working properly. We are here to help avoid uncomfortable situations and quickly resolve your issue. In this blog, we will discuss why your furnace may be blowing cold air in Dayton.

How Do Furnaces Work?

If you sometimes feel clueless on the way your furnace heats your home, we promise you aren’t alone! However, understanding the heating process can help you identify the source of any issues. Depending on the furnace, it uses propane or natural gas to ignite in the burner. The heat then warms up the heat exchanger, and then transfers the heat onto cold incoming air. Finally, the blower pushes the heat into the ductwork to be distributed throughout your home.

Common Furnace-Related Problems

If your furnace is malfunctioning, it could be due to a variety of reasons. Below are five of the most common furnace-related problems that might explain why yours is blowing cold air.

• The Pilot Light Is Out
• Your Thermostat Is Broken
• Faulty Circuit Control
• Your Furnace Is Lacking Fuel
• You Have A Dirty Air Filter

The Pilot Light Is Out

A pilot light is a small gas light that is usually located near the bottom of the furnace and has a gas valve with on, off, and pilot settings. It is constantly burning in order to start a bigger burner, such as a furnace. This light can be turned off when there is a draft, a dirty valve, or a defective thermocouple which is a safety device that shuts off gas when no pilot light is detected. Older units (typically 20 years or older) have a pilot light while newer units might not have this function. If your house contains an older unit, you might want to check if its pilot light is turned on. Most homeowners decide to contact an experienced technician to check if their unit’s pilot light is turned on.

Your Thermostat Is Broken

When your home reaches the temperature you selected to begin the heating cycle, your HVAC system is notified to turn on the heat. Once the heating cycle is activated, the thermostat transmits a signal to the circuit control board, which can be found inside your furnace. This involves turning on the furnace blower and burner, which is where issues may arise. If your furnace is blowing cool air, the thermostat may be giving the signal to turn on the blower motor but not the burner. Unless the burners are turned on, the air pumped into your home will not be heated.

Faulty Circuit Control

The circuit control board of your furnace acts as the furnace’s brain, transmitting orders to its many components. When the circuit control board gets a heating cycle order from the thermostat, it sends signals to the furnace blower and furnace burner to switch them on. If the circuit control board fails, it may turn on the furnace blower but not the furnace burners. If your furnace isn’t blowing hot air, it might be because the circuit control board isn’t activating the burners to heat the air. Some other reasons that might lead to a faulty circuit control include:

• Lack of regular maintenance
• The circuit control is dirty
• Your furnace is leaking water onto the circuit control

Your Furnace Is Lacking Fuel

Another common reason why your furnace is blowing cold air might be due to a problem with its gas supply. It is possible that the gas valve is broken or you simply need to refill your tank. If you use propane instead of natural gas, your gas supply will eventually run out and you will have to periodically refill it in order to keep your home warm.

You Have A Dirty Air Filter

Did you know you have to change your furnace filters along with the ones in your home? In order for your furnace to function properly, the air filter must be periodically cleaned out. A clogged air filter prevents air from blowing through the furnace and increases the temperature. If the unit becomes too hot, this can limit switch stops heating cycles. Your furnace filter is located in the blower compartment, which is typically on the bottom half of your furnace. Most HVAC technicians recommend homeowners clean their air filters every 30 to 90 days to prevent issues like this one.

Schedule Service Today

Universal Heating & Cooling is here to help with any furnace issues you may be experiencing in your home. We know that getting through the holiday season with a broken heater is the last thing anyone would want to do. Give us a call today to schedule furnace repair in Dayton with one of our expert technicians!

A new air conditioner is an investment for your home, and you should be sure you cover all the bases. There are many things about your home that will affect how your system operates before purchasing a new system. In this blog, we will list 7 factors to consider before installing a brand new air conditioner to cool your home.

Review These Factors Before Your Decision!

Many things about your home decide what type of air conditioner is best. Below we have provided a few considerations before AC installation.

• Cost
• Quality
• Size
• Ductwork
• Maintenance
• Air Quality
• Efficiency

Cost

Cheaper is not always better when it comes to air conditioners. It is important to stay within your budget, however, the least expensive air conditioners may end up being the most expensive over time. We recommend evaluating every aspect about the unit and why it is cheaper than the others.

Quality

The more expensive units tend to be the better quality air conditioners. Take into consideration the quality and how long the unit will last when evaluating spending a little extra upfront. Quality units will prove to be worthwhile, because they require fewer repairs and use less energy. Focus on each specification of different units to compare quality over cost.

Size

Air conditioners come in many different shapes and sizes, but there is one appropriate size for your home. If your unit is too big, it will use more energy and increase your energy bills. If your unit is too small, it will not effectively cool your home and possibly overwork itself. Our expert technicians can guide you through choosing the best size air conditioner for your home.

Related Article: Choosing The Right Size HVAC System For Your Home

Ductwork

The type of air conditioner you choose depends on if your home has existing ductwork. If so, it is important to evaluate if your ducts are efficient and have no air leaks. Before installing an AC system, consider having a technician evaluate your ducts and help determine the type of air conditioner best suited for them.

Maintenance

All air conditioners will require maintenance, but some more than others. When choosing an air conditioner, compare the time and money it will require for maintenance to make sure you can properly take care of the system.

Air Quality

AC systems have pre-defined requirements for specific air quality. For the system to function effectively, the air quality needs to align with the specifications. Clean air in your home is important for your health and your air conditioner to provide effective cooling. Depending on your situation, choose an air conditioner to best fit your allergy and air quality needs.

Efficiency

The efficiency of your system is going to determine how much money you will spend on cooling monthly. Although an efficient system may be pricier, it can help lower costs for years to come. Your utility bills reflect how efficient your unit is, so we recommend choosing wisely.

We hope these factors make your AC installation process a breeze. With any questions or air conditioning repair for the remainder of this season, give us a call! Our expert technicians are at your service to maintain your comfort.

Every homeowner has different preferences for their HVAC system. Some prefer to sleep in a cooler setting and some prefer the entire house set to 72 degrees. To combat these different homeowner HVAC preferences, we suggest installing either a Ductless Mini Split or Central Air Conditioner for your home. Here’s the question- which is better for me?

What’s The Difference?

Both Ductless Mini Splits and Central Air Conditioning have their benefits, but both are for specific homeowner preferences and spaces.

A Ductless Mini Split is a cooling option that is placed directly in a room, typically mounted on the wall. This system uses an indoor and outdoor unit connected by refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring and does not require duct work. Mini Splits are designed to heat and cool a desired space, not a whole house.

Central Air Conditioning circulates air from an outdoor unit and pushes it through the duct work of your home and into each room. This system cools the entire house at the set temperature on the thermostat.

Benefits of Ductless Mini Splits

Flexible

Ductless Mini Splits are a flexible option to homeowners. They do not require duct work, which is a benefit for add-on spaces. There is no limit to how many mini splits you can install in your home because they are small in size. Homeowners typically install this system on the wall, but it can be placed on the ground.

Energy efficient

Mini Splits can be turned on and off with the click of a button, which reduces wasted energy. Homeowners can power on their air conditioner while the room is being used and easily turn it off when the room is vacant. The efficiency of mini splits can lower your utility bill.

Temperature Control

No more fighting over sleeping temperatures! Ductless Mini Splits offer individuals the ability to control their bedroom or living area temperatures, aside from the setting of the rest of the house. If you have more than two mini splits, one can be cooling and one can be heating! The temperature options are endless.

Ductless Mini Splits are best for…

• Homes that lack duct work
• Add-on spaces such as sun rooms and garages
• Smaller homes or spaces around 1,000 square feet
• Homeowners who desire cooler/warmer spaces in specific rooms such as the bedroom
• Rooms that get too warm/cold from sunlight/lack of sunlight

Benefits of Central Air Conditioning

Cleaner Air

Central Air Conditioners utilize filters to improve indoor air quality. Given that the duct work is well maintained and tidy, the air that travels through the duct work and into your spaces have been filtered to decrease allergens in your home.

Convenient Cooling

With a central air conditioner, homeowners cool their whole house controlled by their thermostat. The house stays one temperature and homeowners do not have to wait for a room to cool.

Aesthetically Pleasing

The majority of the Central Air Conditioning units are out of sight. Duct work is typically hidden in the attic or closets and the main unit is located outdoors. This allows for your home to improve your inside views without a bulky system as decoration.

Central Air Conditioning is best for…

• Larger homes
• Homes with existing duct work
• Residents with allergies or asthma
• Homeowners wanting each room cooled/warmed simultaneously

Both Ductless Mini Splits and Central Air Conditioning are great options for homeowners. The most important factor for this summer is both systems will keep you comfortable and cool! Each system has specific benefits to help meet different homeowner preferences. Give us a call at (937) 222-4100 to help evaluate and install a cooling system that will best fit your needs this summer!