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A heating failure in cold weather requires faster action than an AC failure in summer. Cold homes can become dangerous quickly, especially for elderly, very young, or medically vulnerable residents. Here is exactly what to do.
Immediate Checks Before Calling
- Thermostat: Set to HEAT, at least 5 degrees above room temperature. Check batteries. Confirm it is not in a schedule mode that is overriding your setting.
- Furnace power switch: Look for a switch on the wall near the furnace (it looks like a light switch). This is commonly turned off accidentally.
- Circuit breaker: Check both the furnace breaker and the air handler breaker if you have a separate air handler.
- Gas supply: Check that your range or water heater has gas. If they do not, call your gas utility -- you may have a supply interruption.
- Air filter: A severely clogged filter can cause the furnace to overheat and shut down on its safety limit switch. Replace if overdue and wait 30 minutes before restarting.
Is It an Emergency?
Call for emergency heating service immediately when: outdoor temperatures are below 32 degrees F, elderly or medically vulnerable people are in the home, pipes are at risk of freezing (homes under 50 degrees F), or the home temperature has dropped below 55 degrees F and continues to fall.
If emergency service is not immediately available: gather everyone in one room (body heat reduces the area to heat), use electric space heaters safely (on stable surfaces, away from combustibles, never unattended), and consider moving to a hotel or a home with functioning heat.
Safe Emergency Heating
- Electric space heaters: Safe and effective for supplemental heating. Use only UL-listed units, on stable surfaces, with 3 feet of clearance, never unattended, and never while sleeping.
- Fireplaces and wood stoves: Effective if they are in service and the flue is clean. Do not burn garbage or pressure-treated wood.
- Things NOT to do: Never run a gas oven for heat -- it produces carbon monoxide. Never run a portable generator indoors or in an attached garage. Never use outdoor propane heaters indoors. These are fatal mistakes every winter.
Protect the Pipes
If your home drops below 50 degrees F, pipes in exterior walls can freeze. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to allow warm air circulation. Let faucets on the cold supply drip slightly. If you are leaving the house, turn off the water main and drain the system if temperatures will remain below freezing for an extended period.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I do when my heat goes out in winter?
- Check the thermostat settings, furnace power switch, circuit breaker, and air filter first. If none of these resolve the issue, call for heating service. Gather in one room, use electric space heaters safely, and do not hesitate to go to a hotel if the home is dropping toward dangerous temperatures with vulnerable people present.
- Is a furnace failure in winter an emergency?
- Yes, if outdoor temperatures are below freezing and the home is cooling rapidly -- especially with elderly, very young, or medically vulnerable people present. Call for emergency service immediately. Emergency heating repair is available from most HVAC contractors, though it carries a $75-$150 premium over standard rates.
- How do I stay warm while waiting for furnace repair?
- Gather in one room and use electric space heaters to heat only that space. Dress in layers. Use extra blankets. If the home drops below 55 degrees F and service is hours away, seriously consider moving to a hotel -- especially with vulnerable household members.
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