The human body is not designed to handle extremely cold weather. Prolonged exposures can result in several health issues such as:

Heart Attack

It is estimated that in the USA alone, around 100 people die a year and over 10,000 patients visit the hospital because of exposure to cold temperatures. The rise in heart rate and blood pressure along with the effect of cold weather in choking arteries to reduce blood supply is especially harmful to people over 55 years old, those who have preexisting heart conditions, and those who have a sedentary lifestyle.

Hypothermia

This is a serious and sometimes fatal condition where body temperature drops from what it should be at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms such as shivering, numbing extremities, reduced dexterity and an extremely cold feeling will give you an idea that you might be suffering from hypothermia.

Colds and Flu

These illnesses are not caused by cold weather, but by viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. The immune system is somehow distressed by cold weather which particularly affects the upper respiratory tract when the body breathes cold air.

A cold nose gives cold and flu, causing rhinoviruses more opportunities to develop, so you are more likely to catch a cold if one is around when the temperature is cold. In warmer climates, the immune system is more likely to intercept the viruses before they can result in an illness.

These issues and many others are reasons why no one should be in the cold during winter.

Your furnace is such a great way to heat your home and rid your family of the negative effects of cold weather. But what if you turn it on, and instead of producing heat, it actually blows cold air?

Calling your trusted heating company can surely help restore the warmth in your home.

To give you an idea what’s going on, here are the three common reasons why your furnace blows cold air instead of warm.

Thermostat Issues

Most of the time, people think that their furnace is faulty when it’s actually the thermostat that’s causing them troubles. Before assuming that you have a costly heating problem to deal with, first take a look at your thermostat.

The thermostat is responsible for commanding the furnace to function. That is why a faulty thermostat can completely disable your entire heating system. If your furnace stops working, you should always inspect the thermostat before performing any other troubleshooting steps.

In checking the thermostat, you need to consider a few things:

• Before moving to the more complicated issues, check the batteries if they need to be replaced.
• For older thermostats, a simple dusting with a small paintbrush usually fixes the problem. That’s because dust and dirt are often the cause of inaccurate temperature readings and other problems.
• You thermostat needs to be away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
• Your thermostat must be perfectly level on the wall. If not, the thermostat switch will not work properly.
• Make sure that your thermostat is set to “HEAT”

Clogged Filters

The function of a filter is to clean the air that goes into the furnace and the heated air that circulates throughout the house. If there is congestion in the filter, airflow is compromised, which causes the furnace to overheat.

There are newer furnace models that automatically shut down before too much dirt is accumulated, telling you to clean the filters. However, older units will keep on working – but with considerably less heat production and lower efficiency.

It is recommended to replace furnace filters every 30 to 60 days, depending on how dirty the air is. Properly maintaining your filter can greatly impact the overall performance of your furnace.

Leaky Ducts

Leaks in your ductwork can cause your home to have inconsistent heating. Since the rooms cannot reach the temperature you have set on the thermostat, your furnace will be working continuously to provide the desired temperature. Not only this is inconvenient and expensive, but an obstruction to your ductwork will also compromise your indoor air quality. This can lead to certain health issues, particularly if anyone from your family is suffering from allergies or has preexisting respiratory conditions.

Ask the HVAC Pros

For a more effective approach to solve these issues, call Kettle Moraine Heating and Air Conditioning. For years, we have been helping Southeastern Wisconsin homeowners keep their homes comfortable, regardless of the season.

Entrust your furnace repair and other HVAC needs to us. We’ll make sure you’ll have your heat restored in no time.