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Goodman Furnace Not Blowing Hot Air? 4 Common Causes + Fixes

When you depend on hot air during the winter months, the last thing you want is that your Goodman furnace stops blowing hot air. Luckily, finding and solving the problem is often an easy task.

Your Goodman furnace isn’t blowing hot air because of dead thermostat batteries or wiring problems, a faulty pilot light, or a dirty or broken burner. To fix the problem, check the thermostat batteries and wiring, ensure the pilot light is lit, and make sure there are no problems with the burners.

Read on if you’re looking for a way to get your Goodman furnace blowing hot air again. We’ll discuss the possible causes behind the problem and give you fixes for each. 

Dead Thermostat Batteries

There are tons of different thermostat models on the market. Some thermostats require a direct connection to a power source. Other thermostats run on batteries or use them as a backup power source. If your thermostat runs on batteries, you need to replace them fairly often. 

When the batteries are drained, it means your thermostat can’t send a signal to the burner or ignitor to produce a flame. So, cold air enters and exits the furnace without getting heated.

This is a common problem that people often overlook, yet it’s a simple fix that only takes a trip down to the local store.

How To Fix

Fixing a thermostat with dead batteries is easy and shouldn’t take more than just a few minutes. Confirm that this is indeed the problem before heading out to buy new batteries:

  1. Take a look at the thermostat. If the thermostat has an LCD, see if it turns on. If nothing is displayed on the screen, check that the thermostat is turned on. If your thermostat is an older model without a screen, look at the LED lights to see if the battery is low.
  2. If the light’s off and nothing is displayed on the screen, remove the thermostat from the wall. 
  3. Open the panel at the back to access the batteries. 
  4. Remove the batteries and take them with you to the shop. Make sure you get the same batteries. Fit the new batteries into the thermostat and see if this solved your problem.

If your thermostat runs on removable, rechargeable batteries, charge them with the charger included in the box.

If you’re having trouble, the video below will help:

Thermostat Wiring Problems

Some thermostats don’t rely on batteries. Instead, they get power from the furnace through the C-wire.

If this is the case, there could be an issue with the wiring. Even if the furnace has been working for a while now, wiring issues can still develop. Wires age and wear out over time. A power surge can fry the thermostat’s wiring, for instance.

Note that there’s more than one wire running from the thermostat to the furnace. Problems with any of these cables can cause insufficient heating, even if the thermostat works normally. 

How To Fix

Start by checking if there’s any power getting to the thermostat. If the thermostat uses a direct power line and won’t turn on, it might be related to the wiring. 

You need to check the inside of the furnace for this step. Open up your Goodman furnace’s main panel and take a look inside. Take a picture of the cables. Now, see if you can find any problems with this wire using a multimeter.

The issue could be a loose wire that isn’t connected properly on both ends. 

Also, check the wire running from the thermostat to the burners. If it’s not working correctly, it can’t tell the burners to sustain the gas.

Faulty Pilot Light

Older Goodman furnaces don’t use the same electric ignitor you see in modern models. Instead, they use a part called a pilot light. The pilot light needs to stay lit at all times. If the pilot light runs into problems, the burners won’t ignite when you turn the furnace on. 

Your furnace relies on burners to heat air. If the burners cannot be ignited, it means you will not be able to enjoy heated air flowing through your home. 

Sometimes, the pilot light is simply dirty. There are, however, times when this part of the furnace becomes damaged or faulty.

How To Fix

Start by checking if the pilot light is lit. If it’s not lit, see if you can light it manually. Use a lighter with a long tip to reach the pilot light. If you manage to ignite it, check whether your furnace works correctly now.

If this doesn’t help or you can’t ignite the pilot light, you should clean it. How you do this exactly depends on the model. Just be gentle when removing the pilot light so that you don’t damage it.

Once removed, use a paper towel or a cotton swab to clean the part. You can use compressed air to get the dust out of the pilot light afterward.

If you see any cracks or scratches, replace the pilot light. 

The video below offers guidance on replacing the pilot light:

Dirty or Broken Burner

Another possible reason your Goodman furnace isn’t blowing hot air lies with the burners. This is a relatively small part responsible for maintaining the flame. The burners release gas to produce heat. 

Since there’s a constant flame, soot and dirt collect on the burner over time. The debris can even block the burners’ holes, making it harder for ignition to occur. The blocked holes also mean the burner will be less efficient at producing adequate heat. 

Additionally, the burners can break, which means you need to replace them.

How To Fix

Cleaning the burners is the first thing you should do. You don’t need to replace them outright if it’s not necessary. Use fine sandpaper to get off the soot and dirt. A can of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner will let you get into the crevices on the burner. 

If cleaning the burner doesn’t fix the issue, consider replacing it. Replacement burners on Goodman furnaces aren’t very expensive. Check what model your furnace uses and get an identical replacement so that you don’t run into compatibility issues. 

Summary

Your Goodman furnace won’t blow hot air if there are problems with the thermostat, pilot light, or burners. You should clean your burners and check the pilot light regardless to ensure proper functionality and maximum efficiency.

If you’re having other problems with your Goodman furnace, I recommend reading through our Complete Goodman Furnace Troubleshooting Guide.

Author

  • Jake Alexander

    Jake is a freelance writer from Pennsylvania who enjoys writing about science and sports. When he's not writing for Temperature Master, he can be found watching the NFL or playing basketball with his friends.

    View all posts

Jake is a freelance writer from Pennsylvania who enjoys writing about science and sports. When he’s not writing for Temperature Master, he can be found watching the NFL or playing basketball with his friends.

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