What to Do When My Heater Goes Out

It’s a cold day. Temperatures have dropped, and your house feels a little chilly. But you don’t think about it, because it’s really cold outside, so it’s just taking longer for your house to warm up…right? 

What should you do when your heater has stopped working? 

Start with Simple Fixes First. 

Before you panic and call your HVAC technician, you can troubleshoot a few things to ensure it’s really the furnace that needs attention.

Check your thermostat. 

Is your thermostat still on cool mode? Sometimes, a warm fall will last well into the time when you kick your thermostat over to “heat.” It’s possible you haven’t switched it over yet. If you are on “heat” mode, check and see if someone in your home changed the settings so the home’s temperature hasn’t dropped low enough for the heater to kick on. 

If neither of these is the issue, check your thermostat to ensure it’s working properly. Raise the temperature to a different setting (high enough that it should kick on shortly after registering the temperature change). If the furnace doesn’t respond and turn on, you may need a new thermostat, and your HVAC technician can help you install one that will help your home be energy efficient through the winter. 

Check around your home.

Check the electrical panel and see if the breaker for the furnace has been tripped. If that’s still in working order, check your furnace filters next. Sometimes, dirty filters in need of changing can prevent heat from circulating efficiently throughout the home. 

Check the furnace. 

Sometimes, the issue with the heating not turning on has to do with the furnace itself, but they are easy things you can fix.  

First, ensure the furnace is turned on. Most furnaces have a switch on the side that might get turned off accidentally. Next, check the furnace door to ensure it’s properly shut. (It may have popped out of place.) Some furnaces won’t turn on if the door isn’t closed properly, as a safety feature. So push the door to make sure it’s securely shut. 

You may need to reset the furnace. If it’s an electric furnace, look for a red or yellow reset button near the blower to push to reset the system. If you can’t find a reset button, turn off the circuit breaker, then turn it back on to restart the furnace. 

Make sure the pilot light is on, or the gas valve is shut off. If the pilot light is off and you’re comfortable relighting it, give your house about half an hour to warm up, depending on how much the house cooled down prior to relighting it. 

NOTE: Lighting a pilot light is not as simple as lighting a candle, and for everyone’s safety, this may need to be left to your HVAC professional. They can safely relight your unit and ensure the safety of your home and your family.  

How long do heaters last? 

As the winter days get colder, you may be concerned about your furnace lasting through the winter. Depending on the model you have and what region of the country you live in, furnaces can last 10 to 30 years. If your system is more than 15 years old, be sure you get it inspected and professionally cleaned every year by your trusted HVAC technician.  

How to Keep Warm When the Furnace Goes Out 

You’ve checked the simple things, and you are in the worst-case scenario: Your heater is out, and it is really cold outside. After you’ve contacted your HVAC technician’s emergency helpline, you can do a few things to help keep as much heat in your home as possible while you wait. And, if you’re with your family, you can make some amazing memories out of an otherwise unfortunate situation. 

1. Stick to one room if you can. This could be the family or living room or even the master bedroom, so a bathroom is close by.  
2. Use a space heater. Be sure to turn it off when you leave the room. Never leave a space heater unattended.
3. Use your fireplace if you have one in the room you’re hunkering down in. 
4. Insulate your home from the outside air as much as possible. Close all windows and doors (even in the rooms you’re not using). Close all blinds, curtains, and drapes. Hang towels or lightweight blankets over the windows without treatments. 
5. Stay inside as much as possible. Heat escapes and cold air comes in every time you open the door. 
6. Dress warmly. Rock those gloves and hats (most heat escapes through your head). Dress in layers and use all the blankets. 
7. Keep moving. Play charades. Have a dance party. Do calisthenics or a family cardio workout.
8. Do chores to keep your blood circulating. Bonus if you do some laundry you can use. Bedding, blankets, and clothing straight from the dryer will keep you nice and toasty. 
9. Get cooking or baking. Don’t just turn your oven on to keep warm — that’s not safe. But if you’re cooking and baking, your oven will help provide some heat to the home. Cook soup or make hot chocolate. Get the kids involved! 
10. Slumber party. If the heat’s out overnight, time to make lemonade and create memories with your family. Everyone huddle up! 

Can pipes freeze if the heater goes out? 

The short answer is yes. Pipes can freeze if the home gets too cold after your furnace stops working and if the outside temps are cold enough. You can help prevent pipes from breaking by insulating exposed pipes (under cabinets), turning the faucets on (a small stream is sufficient), and keeping cabinets and closet doors open.

When Your Heater Goes Out, Don’t Panic.

When your heater goes out in the middle of winter, don’t panic, and don’t attempt to fix it yourself. You can check a few easy things to make sure it’s really your furnace on the fritz, but leave the major repairs to the professionals. Your professional HVAC technician understands how important it is to get your furnace working (or replaced) as quickly as possible in the frigid winter months. 

When you choose HVAC Master, you can be confident they’ll get your home warming back up as soon as possible without upselling you unnecessary repairs. After all, they come with a tool bag, not a price sheet.