A heating emergency can happen at any time and it always seems to be on the coldest day of the year. One minute, you’re relaxing on the couch and the next you feel the temperature drop and your body searches for more blankets. During those first thirty minutes, having a plan of action can be extremely helpful for a successful resolution.
One of the most common mistakes people make during a heating emergency is panicking. In those first few moments, homeowners will race around the house and take the first solution to mind. Before you react, take a deep breath and go through your next few steps. When a heating emergency occurs, here are the first 30 minutes of action you should take to troubleshoot the problem.
Safety First
If you detect an unusual odor, trust your instincts. If your furnace or boiler smells like rotten eggs or sulfur that is a telltale sign of a gas leak. Get your family out of the house quickly and call your gas company from a neighbor’s house. Don’t use light switches or your cell phone in your home until you get the all clear from your gas company.
Pay close attention to strange furnace or boiler noises. An explosion sound or persistent clanking coming from your heating equipment is never normal. A clanking sound could indicate a mechanical failure that is bound to get worse over time. If you hear loud or odd noises from your heating system, give us a call before morning. We have a service team on call for precisely these types of emergencies.
The hidden danger during a heating emergency is carbon monoxide or CO. This invisible, odorless gas can slowly make its way into your home and cause serious harm to your family. Install CO detectors on every floor of your home, especially close to sleeping areas. Test your CO detectors monthly and replace their batteries once a year. If you hear a CO detector alarm, evacuate the house and call emergency services.
Troubleshooting
If there are no immediate safety hazards present, it’s time to troubleshoot the issue. Before you start, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Reset your mindset and prepare yourself for the following questions. Now’s not the time to start guessing.
The best advice I can give here is to check the obvious. The most basic problem during a heating emergency is usually your thermostat settings. Grab your remote thermostat and make sure it’s on heat mode. Also, confirm the temperature is set to a higher setting than the current room temperature. Did you install a programmable thermostat? Double-check your current settings match your on-schedule settings.
Air filters are easy to overlook as the root cause of a heating problem. When a furnace or boiler air filter becomes clogged up, it overworks the system until it stops. Remove the air filter and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see through it, the filter is dirty and needs a replacement. This small step has eliminated many emergency service calls for my team.
The next step in your troubleshooting process is the circuit breaker. Most people forget their furnace has a circuit breaker just like any other household appliance. Go to your electrical panel and find the one switch that is not aligned with all the other switches. Push the switch all the way to the off position and then flip back on. Often, the furnace simply needed to reset its circuit breaker.
Heat Loss
If your thermostat is working correctly, it’s time to get out of your chair and check for heat loss. Spend a few minutes walking through your home and take note of any rooms that are warmer or cooler than others. This can help isolate your current heating emergency to a single room rather than a whole-house problem. While you inspect each room, feel around all of your windows and doors for drafts.
The basement is the worst heat thief in any house. Check your home’s ductwork if you have an unfinished basement or attic. A loose or disconnected duct sends your heated air where it’s not supposed to be.
Recordkeeping
Document everything you do during the first thirty minutes of your heating emergency. A picture is worth a thousand words and the same can be said for a digital photo of your thermostat reading. Keep track of what rooms are warm and cool. Write down the date, time, and time of year you had your heating emergency. Do you notice any odd sounds or smells? Document those as well. The more information you have when a technician arrives, the faster we can get your heating system running again.
Temporary Fixes
There are only a handful of problems that a technician can’t fix during the first 30 minutes of your heating emergency. What happens when your furnace is dead and it will take hours before help arrives? The first step to success during this time is to stay warm. Portable space heaters are an excellent way to get by until help arrives. Keep all flammable objects at least 3 feet away from space heaters. Turn off the space heater when you leave the room or go to sleep.
The next step to staying warm is to change your mindset. Start wearing multiple layers of clothing until your heat returns. Start with a long sleeve moisture-wicking base layer, add a warm middle layer like fleece, and top it off with a jacket. Wear a warm hat to keep heat in your head. That’s right mom was right when she said you were losing heat out of your head.
Close off any rooms you’re not using and focus your family’s body heat into one or two rooms. You don’t need to heat your entire house if your heating system is dead. Hang blankets over doorways to trap warm air where it’s needed.
Calling the Pros
It’s time to call your heating professional and be prepared to share everything you’ve found with them. I know it can be embarrassing if you have a complete heating failure in your home. The great thing about HVAC technicians is that we have seen it all before. When you call Salmon HVAC or your preferred heating professional, be prepared to share a lot of information.
Call your heating professional with a detailed report of everything you’ve found in the last 30 minutes. Include the following information:
- Sounds or noises from your heating system
- Odors or smells from your heating system
- Thermostat settings or behavior
- Steps you have taken to fix the problem
- How long the problem has existed before you took action
Ask your heating professional about their after-hours emergency service. Some companies will offer after-hours services for a large premium fee. Once you’ve confirmed the problem is real, ask for an estimate over the phone. This can help you decide if you want to wait for a service call or continue with your own troubleshooting.
Until help arrives, keep your family members informed on the current heating status in your home. If you have small children, elderly, or disabled family members, you may need to make other arrangements for them. We don’t want anyone to get sick when your heat goes out during the winter.
Preventative Measures
Here’s a lesson many homeowners learn the hard way. Annual maintenance is not an optional expense. Scheduled preventative maintenance checks and balances catch small issues before they become heating emergencies. A qualified HVAC technician can identify a worn part and proactively replace it before it fails.
Make sure to give your furnace or boiler plenty of room to breathe in your home. I have seen many furnaces or boilers surrounded by storage boxes that obstruct airflow to the unit.
Key Takeaways
The main goal of these first 30 minutes of a heating emergency is to create a game plan. Stay calm, prioritize safety, do what you can, and leave the rest to the experts. This will help you maintain your sanity during those first few minutes of panic.
Above all, schedule your next maintenance appointment today. If you prepare for the heating emergency today, you’re less likely to experience one in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my furnace stops working in the middle of winter?
Check thermostat settings, replace dirty air filter, and check circuit breaker. If those quick fixes don’t work, call a professional heating technician right away. Don’t try to fix complex heating system components on your own.
How can I tell if I have a carbon monoxide leak from my heating system?
Install CO detectors on every level of your home near bedrooms. Physical symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. If your CO detector alarm goes off, evacuate and call emergency services from outside your home.
Why does my furnace turn on but not produce heat?
Dirty air filter restricting airflow, pilot light or ignition system not working, thermostat issues, or ductwork problems. Try simple solutions like replacing air filter and checking thermostat settings. Call professional heating technician if problem persists.
How much does emergency furnace repair typically cost?
Emergency heating repairs range from $200 to $1,200 depending on issue. Minor repairs like replacing filters or sensors cost less, major repairs like replacing blower motor or heat exchanger cost more. After-hours emergency service may have additional fee, but its worth it to restore heat quickly.
Can I safely use my oven to heat my home during a heating emergency?
Using your oven for emergency heat is unsafe and inefficient. If you must use it, never leave oven unattended, keep area well-ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide buildup, and use it for short periods only. Portable space heaters are a much safer option for emergency heat.