As the months get colder, the faster we run to our furnace to seek refuge from the outdoors. Sometimes, however, heating systems get glitches. If you wake up one morning to a freezing house, it can be overwhelming figuring out what to do first. Keep reading to learn more about what our professionals at Express Air suggest you do if your furnace goes out this winter.
Do you smell rotten eggs?
The reasons why a furnace shuts off are not always serious, but if the cold air in your home is accompanied by a sulfur-like, rotten egg smell then you should make sure your furnace isn’t experiencing a gas leak.
Gas leaks happen for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is a cracked heat exchanger. Gas is combusted inside your furnace’s heat exchanger, and its fans blow air over it to pick up the heat before it pushes through your vents.
If you notice a foul smell coming from your furnace, make sure to turn off your furnace, open any windows to let out any gas, and evacuate your home. A gas leak puts your home at risk of a fire. Call your gas company immediately.
Check for simple issues
Oftentimes the reason for your furnace going out is simple. Here are a few basic problems you can troubleshoot on your own before calling a professional.
- Furnace switch — check to see if your furnace switch was accidentally bumped. Most furnace switches are found on the side of a furnace and look like a light switch.
- Tripped circuit breaker — check your circuit box to make sure the breaker is set to ON.
- Extinguished pilot light — make sure your pilot light isn’t turned off. Your furnace model should come with an instruction manual that shows you how to turn it back on.
- Check furnace air filters — dirty air filters can cause your furnace to overheat. The limit switch will shut it off so it doesn’t catch fire. Replace its filters and reset the furnace.
- Broken thermostat — sometimes a furnace isn’t to blame but instead it’s the thermostat. Check to see if your thermostat works at different temperatures.
Keep pipes warm
If any of the above tips didn’t help, call a professional to help you figure out the problem. Since the winter is a busy time for technicians due to emergency calls, however, there’s a chance it might take some time before you can get your heater repaired.
If this ends up being the case, make sure your water pipes are kept warm before a professional arrives. Frozen pipes can cause them to burst, which is just another issue on top of your broken down furnace. You can use mini portable heaters near your main water pipes in the meantime.
Use other heat sources
If you’ll need to wait hours or even days for a technician, you’ll need to improvise. Use your fireplace or portable heaters. Make sure you seal off any cracks or holes in your home so that cold air can’t make its way inside. Use blankets or towels beneath doors and shut windows off tight.
Schedule heater maintenance
If you’re able to figure out the problem yourself, great! But if not, and you’re needing to wait on professional help, consider scheduling regular heater maintenance for the future. A technician can help catch minor issues that can turn into something serious when you need your furnace the most. This will save you a headache as well as help you avoid costly repairs.
Call a professional
If your furnace goes out and you’re located in the Crestview area, you’re in luck! Our technicians at Express Air would be happy to help you repair your heating system swiftly and efficiently. Whether it’s an emergency visit, furnace maintenance, or a full furnace replacement, Express Air is ready to be put to the test. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
