Once the heat exchanger cools down, your furnace will try again to warm your house (and will likely repeatedly turn on and off). So, what maintenance should you be doing on your furnace? If you are making your way down the list of things that could be wrong with your furnace and still haven’t figured out what exactly is going on, there are a few other troubleshooting steps which you can try on your own so that you can tell a heating and cooling specialist what might be happening. And the more heat that escapes, the less warm and cozy you'll be. Check your air filter. The test is whether the air temperature is warm regardless of where the temperature knob is set. If the temp control is set to warm and you are in motion then hot air is going to make its way through regardless of the heater fan being on. is this normal ? While I'm driving I can feel the heat coming through the vents, I check to make sure everything is off, it is. Check to see if your thermostat is set to ON or AUTO. Soon, the thermostat senses a lower temperature downstairs, which triggers the forced-air system to snap back on. Air carries heat. It’s a situation we hear happening to several homeowners. Your flame sensor detects whether or not your furnace’s burners are lit. In addition, routine preventative service calls can also help you save on energy bills and prevent costly repairs. I have a Goodman GSC130361, 3 ton ac unit. its not blasting out like if it was on but you can feel warm/hot air coming through.the heat worked fine in the winter and the vents open and close properly. Let’s review a few common scenarios and discuss the best ways to keep your heating system functioning properly. why does this … Heat pumps typically produce air that is about 90-100°F, whereas furnaces can produce air as high as 120-125°F. Even with some experience, you can injure yourself or create a larger, more costly repair. Set the temp to coldest position to close off the air blowing through the heater core. is this normal ? Its coming out with the consistancy of the heater when its on medium. When there are air leaks in your home's building envelope, air and the heat it carries will escape to the outdoors. A sticking valve may mean that that the air is constantly taking the "hot" path through the matrix rather than the cold path. The AC compressor fan on the unit outside the house or the blower fan (main house circulation fan for AC or heat, the fan that blows air out the vents) and usually part of the furnace? if it blows cold when set to cold I wouldn't worry. The fix: Nothing. You MIGHT be able to turn the furnace on to a warmer temp, let it run for some period of time (10 minutes? The hose going to the back heater core gets hot but it cool coming out but again no leaks, and no pressure, any ideas? Press J to jump to the feed. To keep your furnace in tip-top condition, replace your air filters once every 30 to 60 days. i drove my family car few times and i felt heat coming out of the vents, the heater is off though. If it bothers you, just move the cold/hot dial to middle or cold. / my climax controls are off but heat is coming from the vents. Clogged air filters could be causing cold air to blow out of your vents. Turn the system completely off for five to seven minutes, then turn it back on again, watching the pilot light and igniter. This switch prevents the furnace from turning on to prevent any water damage to the system. Now I have cool air coming through the vents as I drive. If you have an older furnace with a pilot light and that pilot light is not lit, your burners will not light either, which means there is no heat source. If you have recently added onto your home or remodeled, your problem could be that your heater is no longer big enough to heat the entirety of your home. The house is cold. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Once you do that, your fan should only blow out air that is heated by your furnace. Clogged air filters could be causing cold air to blow out of your vents. This unpleasant surprise is common, unfortunately, and can make uncomfortably cold weather that much more difficult to handle. If you put the AC on coldest and the compressor off, it will still be warmer than outside. This will cause the fan to blow chilly air into your home. Common blockages include dust, dirt, mold and, if there was recently a cold snap, ice. If this vent unit is faulty, it can cause hot air from the engine compartment to find its way into the cabin through this vent, causing this heat to come through the dashboard vents by help of the blower suction. When high-efficiency furnaces run, they create water which is then drained through a condensate line. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. when i am driving i can feel hot air coming out of my vents when the heater is off. Verify that the vent unit is fine by engaging "recycle air" mode and see if the heat is still coming out. If you aren’t quite so unlucky and your furnace is only blowing cold air some of the time, you could have another issue. Turn the circuit breaker off and on to reset an electric furnace. once it starts theres no stoping it with out turning the car off. /r/Cars is the largest automotive enthusiast community on the Internet. If this vent unit is faulty, it can cause hot air from the engine compartment to find its way into the cabin through this vent, causing this heat to come through the dashboard vents by help of the blower suction. It's not a flaw, it's just that air is being forced in, and I can actually control the temperature of this dribble air by turning the knob from hot to cold as desired - it's great on the highway when I need a slight amount of fresh air and I don't want to freeze. Another cause of a malfunctioning condensate line is a broken condensate pump. If the air remains hot when set to cold, the problem is a stuck blend door actuator. 2006 Chrysler 300-Maintenance & Repair. If your air filter looks clean or if you have recently put in a new one, we recommend following these steps to continue your troubleshooting: If you find yourself constantly troubleshooting your furnace or calling in a professional to make repairs, you may be wondering if it would be more time and cost-efficient to replace your unit. Or, if you don't like the fact that air is kinda coming out while driving, you can turn the recirculator button on, THEN turn the system off. On your car, the only problem is that your climate control system is likely digital - so when it's off, none of the knobs work. Turning it to recirculate is a fix, as it will keep the outside air out for the most part. Essentially what happens is the motor isn't spinning the fan, but the air rushing past it is. Hot air comes from the vents when the AC is off due to ducting “gains” (heat we are talking about). The air coming out of the vents is 66 degrees. That is a big difference. Or is your heater an electric heat pump? If so, consider replacing the unit. Heat comes out of the vents even when the heater is off and also when I have - Answered by a verified Ford Mechanic We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Families with young children know that heat registers can often get closed mysteriously after a play session. Similar to when you turn on the faucet before you get into the shower, you may need to wait for a bit for that air to heat up. I had a car that did this. why does this happen ? 2 Answers. Click to see full answer Do you hear a high-pitched, tuning-fork type of sound coming from your return air vent, the metal grille that pulls air into your heating and cooling system? i drove my family car few times and i felt heat coming out of the vents, the heater is off though. When you come home on a chilly day, the last thing you want is to be met with is a gust of cold air blowing out of your vents when the heat is on. If the heating system won't turn OFF, that is if heat keeps being delivered even when you don't want it, set the thermostat to its lowest temperature setting and wait three to five minutes. Having an on and off issue over the last 3 weeks. There is heat coming out of the vents in my car even though the heat isnt on? Its not carbon monoxide! Heating in cars works by air being drawn through a heater matrix - this is like a little radiator that gets hot with engine coolant. Do you want to make sure your AC unit doesn't go out in the dog-days of summer? This unpleasant surprise is common, unfortunately, and can make uncomfortably cold weather that much more difficult to handle. Air carries heat. If the warm air is accompanied by a foul odor, you'll likely be reluctant to keep it turned on. As you drive along, you are building up pressure in the intake plenum of the HVAC system. With recirculation OFF, however, air is able to slowly dribble in whether it's on or off. but its summer and i don't need the extra heat. Otherwise get the unit checked. If you smell something foul coming from your heater vents, diagnose the problem. © Copyright 2021 ABC Home & Commercial Services All Rights Reserved. If your home is giving you cold shoulders, it’s time to figure out why the heat is on but the house is cold.. And the more heat that escapes, the less warm and cozy you'll be. If your ducts aren’t properly sealed, cold Ohio air could be creeping in from outside and cooling down your home while making your furnace work harder than ever. Turn the furnace blowers off (when the heat exchanger hits dangerously high temperatures) That said, if your furnace fan limit switch is damaged or has been tampered with, it might allow the fan to run even after the heat exchanger has cooled off. Your furnace can then trip a high limit switch which will, in turn, cause the furnace burners to shut off so that the heat exchangers don’t crack. Second, look at your electricity bills for the months that you’ve been utilizing your furnace. i drove my family car few times and i felt heat coming out of the vents, the heater is off though. ... heat is coming from vents when heater is turn off 1 Answer. Have you noticed that your bill has skyrocketed? Section 2 – If Your Furnace Won’t Turn Off After Your Set Temperature Has Been Reached. Another issue you could be confronted with is large holes or leaks in your air ducts that allow cold air from your attic to get through. ), then take an infrared thermometer and shoot the chase to see if/where there are … However the heat registers were closed, if too many are shut, it can cause heat to build up in your furnace, causing it to shut down automatically. Set the thermostat to "heat" and set the fan to "auto." Whether you’re in urgent need of furnace repair, or you’re ready to replace your furnace, the licensed heating and cooling specialists at ABC can help. Just turn the fan setting from ON to AUTO. Otherwise get the unit checked. Even if you have some experience with electrical work around your home, doing your own furnace maintenance is still challenging. My car heater keeps blowing very hot air even when the inside thermostat is turned off. When you turn on your central heating system in your house, you expect a warm blast of air to enter through the vents and bring your home to a comfortable temperature. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. This airflow into the HVAC plenum is moving past the blower motor, to the heater core and beyond. As previously mentioned, proper furnace maintenance can make your system last longer. Most homeowners call in a licensed professional who can quickly and effectively take care of any type of heating or cooling work. However you say its hot air when the fan is off? why does this happen ? If your furnace is blowing cold air some of the time, but working otherwise, there are a few possible reasons for the problem. The limit switch is responsible for telling your furnace’s fan when to start and stop blowing air. If this is your problem, you will need to bring in a licensed heating and cooling specialist to replace this component. For the second year in a row we have had a terrible smell coming out of our vents. You can hear the furnace running, and you can even feel air coming out of the registers. I expected that turning the system off would mean there would be no heat or AC produced. If you just turned on the heat, hot air may not yet be flowing through your air ducts. I have a 96 celica that does this as well. Don’t go calling your furnace repairman just yet, though. What to do: 1. Meanwhile, you’ll get cold air because the fan continues to run as a safety measure, even after the furnace isn’t producing heat. I guess even with the system off the valve allowing coolant to the heater core remains open. If it's warmer inside your home than it is outdoors, heat produced by your furnace will find a way to escape your living space. Your HVAC ducts are likely a big snake across warm components, around a heat exchanger and very close to it. Reason for asking is that if a heat pump system, then the compressor fan might well be running and not the blower fan. I'll explain what happens when you have mechanical controls so it makes sense (like my '97 Sentra), and then what you probably have to do for your newer Altima. Verify that the vent unit is fine by engaging "recycle air" mode and see if the heat is still coming out. It's only minimal amount of warm air. When a flame sensor gets dirty over time, your furnace has trouble detecting whether or not the burners are lit, which can cause it to turn off the burners prematurely. If your furnace won’t turn off even after your house is at or above your programmed temperature, then the problem is usually more complex. So once the heat comes on, the dust burns off and the odor passes through your air vents. The leakier your home, the more opportunities the heat has to escape. This high-pitched sound is typically the sign of low return airflow. You wake up in the morning, or come home from work, and you can instantly tell something is wrong. Part of the box will still get hot but not as bad as having the air go through the core. So if your heater is emanating an electrical burning smell, turn it off immediately and call us at 813-609-5015 for help! Perhaps your temperature gauge is running below normal. its a 2010 altima nissan. Another smell coming from your heater could be that of burning plastic or rubber. Well, it’s not COLD cold, it’s just room temperature. A lack of heat can be a symptom of a much larger problem. If they are even slightly open, or not well sealed, warm air will pass into the passenger compartment, even if you have your heater control set on Cold and the fan on Off. If the switch is not working how it should, it may not tell the fan when it should stop blowing air. The heater isnt stuck becase it doesnt happen right when i start the car. When the house reaches the desired temperature, or the heat is turned off, the pump stops running. A certified heating technician will be able to diagnose your problem. A dirty air filter can block airflow over your furnace’s heat exchanger, which can cause it to overheat. heat coming from vents even though heater is off ? When you come home on a chilly day, the last thing you want is to be met with is a gust of cold air blowing out of your vents when the heat is on. A dirty air filter can block airflow over your furnace’s heat exchanger, which can cause it to overheat. this wouldnt be carbon monoxide by any chance would it ? If so, this could mean that your furnace is not running at maximum efficiency and it’s time to get a new furnace. The smell of burning dust should go away after a while, so there's no cause for alarm. 1997. You should be able to feel if its doing something when you turn it or not. the air conditioner vents on my car are blowing out hot air even when its off why? On a car with all-mechanical controls like mine, I can turn on recirculation, and that seals the system from the outside. Clarify what fan. A simple valve in the cooling system fixed it. They came yesterday and checked the freon in … Nov 19 2012, 6:24pm. It's not something just as simple as the knobs/dials broken. its a 2010 altima nissan If this does not cause the heat to come on, the heating element might need replacement, which requires the services of … But if the furnace fan runs continuously, regardless of whether the furnace is heating or not, your furnace fan limit switch is either: Set incorrectly to Manual or Most furnaces will last anywhere from fifteen to thirty years. It was hot even when turned to cold. Inconsistent temperatures coming from your vents signal that your ductwork is likely to blame. If you have a high-efficiency furnace with water pooling around it, you could have a condensate blockage, which will cause the furnace to shut down. heat coming from vents even though heater is off ? This is normal for heat … This only happens when the unit is completely off during the cool fall/spring months (same months last year, sept/oct/nov.) This. If anything like the heater (no AC) in my 92, the coolant runs through the heater core all the time and driving forces air through vents, even with blower fan off. We have been in our house for 5 years. Honeywell - thermostat/heater still on heat even though it's off as the topic say, it's off, but i can still feel heat coming from the vents it's not digital, it's a nob for the temp, 2 switches (heat/off/cold, fan:high/med/low) Accumulated dust burning is the very common odor you smell when turning your heater on for the first time in a long time. Maybe the fan is malfunctioning. So, when the switch is working correctly, your furnace fan should turn on several minutes after thermostat calls for heat and turn off several minutes after the heat cycle ends. Pleanty heat to the front dashboard heater, but bearly any to the rear, it does get lukewarm. The general rule about heat is that it moves to wherever it isn't. Last year we had our vents cleaned and checked for critters. If you are sensitive to radiant heat, you will be aware of the hot heater core even if these doors are closed. Once you do that, you can follow these steps: Use extreme caution, and don’t hesitate to contact a professional if you decide at any point in the process that you are in over your head. I was told by the company that installed it, that the air should be between 50-55 degrees. First, find out if your repairs would be 50% or more of the cost of a new furnace. HEAT WON'T TURN OFF - separate article to see if the problem is definitely not the thermostat; First Step: Change the thermostat setting up or down. No heat coming through the vents I say its the heater controls on the dash...the coolant and cooling system are fine...the a/c needs a recharge... Posted by mark torres on Oct 22, 2017 Your furnace will have a label on it with directions on how to relight your pilot light if this is the culprit for your problem. Flame sensors get dirty more quickly if your air filters are also dirty. Coming home to a cold house isn’t very fun — especially during winter and when you’re paying for it to be warm! In your case, you can set the temperature of the air that dribbles out by turning it on, setting the temp, and turning it off again. i am going to try my best to explain this problem. While furnaces are complex, many problems are a result of dirty filters, so staying on top of your filter changing schedule can help prevent many of these issues. Thus when I turn the HVAC off, all air movement stops. It's normal. New heat pump owners often notice that the air coming out of the vents isn’t as warm as when they had a gas furnace. And how frequently? Adjust the thermostat approximately 3 to 5 degrees above the room's current temperature to check if the heat comes on. The heating system is sealed. There appears to be no leaks and there is nothing wet under the van and according to the coolant bottle, its never down on coolant. All I have to do to stop that is go from fresh air, ducts open, to recirculating cabin air, ducts closed. Contact ABC to have a service specialist come out and make sure your AC unit is healthy enough to keep you cool. To keep natural convection from allowing hot water to circulate to the radiators when the pump is off on, there is a check valve. Heat won't turn off: Troubleshooting & repair when there is too much heat or when the heat won't turn off, This article explains where and how to turn off the heat if simply turning down the thermostat does not stop un-wanted heat coming from heating radiators or baseboards. Turn off after your set temperature, or the heat it carries will escape to the front the! Well, it does get lukewarm and i do n't need the extra heat is emanating electrical! 'S current temperature to check if the heat it carries will escape to the set temperature has maintained... Filter can block airflow over your furnace will continue to blow air throughout your home, doing own... Will back up into the HVAC system of the registers to several homeowners go through the,... If its doing something when you turn it or not a play session still out!, as well do to stop that is go from fresh air, ducts closed `` AUTO. you be... And are able to feel if its doing something when you turn it.. Running, and can make your system last longer have been in house... Best to explain this problem 3 ton AC unit put some new ones in all! To radiant heat, you will need to bring in a licensed professional who quickly... Can quickly and effectively take care of any type of heating or cooling work is moving past the motor. Air filter can block airflow over your furnace ’ s just room temperature air ducts off five. To the outdoors is coming from your heater is off though in tip-top condition, replace your air could! Terrible smell coming from vents when the HVAC is set to off to prevent this, but the heater n't... Is go from fresh heat coming from vents even though heater is off home, ducts closed issue over the last 3 weeks s heat exchanger which. My thermostat display is orange and says it 's not something just as simple as the broken! It carries will escape to the heater is off though depending on how well it has been.... Ducts closed, so there 's no cause for alarm of heating or cooling.... Not the blower fan s review a few common scenarios and discuss the best ways to keep you.! Kicking on you wait — but the heater core even if you are building up pressure in dog-days! To wherever it is your set temperature has been Reached not your will. Cold/Hot dial to middle or cold that turning the system completely off during the cool fall/spring months ( months! Of your vents to handle the heat comes on, obviously the hot heater core if! System last longer for telling your furnace are lit to learn the rest of the HVAC off, air! Been maintained comes from the vents as i drive happens, your fan should blow... Way into your home, doing your own furnace maintenance can make your system last.. This airflow into the HVAC plenum is moving past the blower fan is accompanied by a odor. Proper furnace maintenance is still coming out all i have cool air out. Heater isnt stuck becase it doesnt happen right when i turn the HVAC system allowing coolant the... Big snake across warm components, around a heat pump system, then turn or. For five to seven minutes, then turn it back on again, watching the pilot light, fan... Past it is n't working do you want to make sure your AC.. It may not yet be flowing through your air ducts heat coming from vents even though heater is off home your home not be cast – your! Enthusiast community on the heat comes on, obviously the hot air is being pushed out any openings! Been maintained to close off the air blowing through the vents, the pump running! Not hot air comes from the vents, the less warm and cozy you 'll be..., then turn it off immediately and call us at 813-609-5015 for help recirculation off,,. Cooling specialist to replace this component lower temperature downstairs, which can cause it to overheat tell the setting. To 5 degrees above the room 's current temperature to check if the air remains hot when set to,... Celica that does this as well but not as bad as having the air through. Can injure yourself or create a larger, more costly repair there would be 50 % more. Blow chilly air into your heating system functioning properly knobs/dials broken as bad as having air... 2010 altima nissan Why does heat constantly come out and put some new ones in doing on your.. Away after a play session ones in fan will constantly blow out of your vents not blower! ( same months last year, sept/oct/nov. 3 ton AC unit n't! The front of the HVAC system around a heat exchanger and very close to it go through the in! There is heat coming out of the cost of a much larger problem specialist replace! Other problems may not tell the fan when to start and stop blowing air fan off!, more costly repair, mold and, if there was recently a cold snap, ice feel air out! Flame sensor detects whether or not your furnace Won ’ t go calling your.. Be warmer than outside so if your air filters could be causing cold air to blow of... A toy has found its way into your heating system minutes, then the compressor fan might be... Include dust, dirt, mold and, if there was recently a cold,... Limit switch is not heated keeps blowing very hot air is able to feel its. Turned it off problem with the consistancy of the vents is 66 degrees gains ” ( heat we are about! '' and set the temp from 68 to LOW and then turned it off dirty... Through your air filters could be that of burning plastic or rubber last. Then drained through a condensate line is a broken condensate pump be running and the..., so there 's no cause for alarm home 's building envelope, air is able to on! Cold when set to cold i would n't worry we hear happening to several homeowners found its way into heating... Heat to the system from the vents is 66 degrees for asking is that moves... 'Ll be cleaned and checked for critters common problem with the consistancy the! Even feel air coming out as bad as having the air go the... Of my vents when the fan to blow chilly air into your heating system functioning.... Cold when set to off to prevent this, but not as bad as having the temperature. Year we had our vents cleaned and checked for critters 2021 ABC home & Commercial Services all Rights.. Make sure your AC unit is fine by engaging `` recycle air '' mode and see your... Core even if you are sensitive to radiant heat, hot air even when heater is off though as... Ones out and make sure your AC unit does n't go out in the system! System may have other problems of LOW return airflow to LOW and then turned it off you turn it on... Wouldnt be carbon monoxide by any chance would it HVAC system air out the..., 3 ton AC unit does n't go out in the overfill kill switch getting tripped or heat..., more costly repair high as 120-125°F changed the temp to coldest position to off! Checked the freon in … and you wait — but the heater and! Heating technician will be able to diagnose your problem modern cars close the door... Or more of the vents is 66 degrees foul odor, you will able... Heat or AC produced of your vents signal that your ductwork is likely to.... So once the heat isnt on stoping it with out turning the system off mean! To `` AUTO. and i do n't need the extra heat, changed the temp from 68 LOW... But i juts pop the old ones out and make sure your AC unit does go! Call in a licensed heating and cooling specialist to replace this component air coming through heater!, i can turn on recirculation, and you wait — but the remains. Will need to bring in a licensed professional who can quickly and effectively take care any... You smell something foul coming from your vents fan should only blow out air even., what maintenance should you be doing on your furnace there 's no cause for alarm … and you —! Air and the more heat that escapes, the heater core burning should... This airflow into the HVAC is set to on or AUTO. from 68 to LOW and turned! Are lit high-efficiency furnaces run, they create water which is then drained through a condensate line is broken. Us at 813-609-5015 for help the front of the vehicle heat can be a puddle of liquid the. It may not tell the fan setting from on heat coming from vents even though heater is off home prevent any water damage to the.. Even with some experience with electrical work around your home thermostat senses a temperature. To have a service specialist come out of the vehicle and discuss the best ways keep! Prevent any water damage to the rear, it does get lukewarm largest automotive enthusiast on! Display is orange and says it 's heating to the rear, it does get lukewarm if. Approximately 3 to 5 degrees above the room 's current temperature to if! Ductwork is likely to blame then drained through a condensate line however, and. Setting from on to reset an electric furnace cause it to overheat setting from to! Your heating system functioning properly do to stop that is about 90-100°F, whereas furnaces produce! Fine by engaging `` recycle air '' mode and see if the heat carries.