Car Heater Blowing Cold Air? Common Issues

A car heater blowing cold air

Most people expect everything from their car’s engine to the power windows to work day in and day out. But if your car has been around the block a few times, certain aspects of your vehicle may not be working as expected, and that can include your car’s heater. Whether it’s a chilly morning and your car heating is blowing cold air or you’re noticing some other strange behavior with your vehicle’s climate control, a car heater that’s not working is a problem that will need to be fixed sooner than later.

Not only can a car heater that’s not blowing hot air indicate a problem with your car’s climate control, but it may be the result of a problem elsewhere in your vehicle. If left unaddressed, you could have something more serious than a problematic heater on your hands — there could be a more severe pending problem that could leave you stranded out in the cold, and that can be problematic during the colder months of the year.

Let’s take a look at some reasons why your car heater may be blowing cold air.

A Lack of Coolant

One of the main reasons why your car’s heater may be blowing cold air has to do with coolant, which is a liquid substance that helps keep temperatures in your car — both hot and cold — under control. Typically made up of 50% antifreeze and 50% water, coolant helps keep engine temperatures manageable in the warmer months, but it also has a role in winter: to allow the heater core to blow warm air into the car cabin. If the cool air turns warm after a few minutes, that’s normal because it takes time for the coolant to heat up and make its way into the interior. But if the air doesn’t warm up at all, you could be dealing with a lack of coolant.

Heater Core Problems

A car heater that’s blowing cold air after warming up could indicate a problem with the heater core. If the coolant level looks good, there could be a problem with coolant getting to the heater core, or there could also be a clog in the tubing of the heater core that may prevent the warm air from circulating in the first place. A heater core is basically like a small radiator that brings coolant in and out while nearby fans blow the hot air into the cabin. But if your heater core has failed, you may also notice problems defrosting, fog inside your car or a strange, sweet smell. 

Broken Climate Control

In the center of your console or on your dash, there are controls that you can use to turn the heat on and off, as well as to adjust temperature and fan speed. If these buttons and switches are not responsive and your car heater is blowing cold air, or not blowing air at all, you could be dealing with a failing climate control. Buttons and switches have a tendency to fail eventually, and there’s also tubing, vents and other things that can rupture or clog, and that can mean no more functional heat for the cabin. If your air conditioner is also giving you problems, or you have a broken thermostat or other problems with your car’s electronics, it could all be the cause of a car heater that’s blowing cold air.

If you’ve had enough of your car’s malfunctioning heater, bring your vehicle in to the car experts at Edgestone Automotive. We’ve seen and done it all before, and we can get your car back up and running in no time at all. Schedule an appointment to get your heater repaired today!