One of the worst things that can go wrong for homeowners is your heat going out, especially in the dead of winter. Whether you have a newborn at home, a sick family member, or you just hate the cold, the experts at Springfield Heating & Cooling want to ensure that homeowners are prepared in the event of a furnace breakdown. To help, we turned to our home heating experts and came up with a list of a few things they recommend you can do to stay warm while you wait for help. On top of that, our knowledgeable technicians want to make sure you are prepared if your heat goes out this winter. Therefore, we have also listed some equipment we recommend purchasing for an emergency like this.
What Is the First Thing I Should Check?
If your home heating system isn’t working, you’ll want to start by checking the basics. This includes your air filter, thermostat, electrical panel, or pilot light. Did you know that one of the leading causes of a residential furnace breakdown is due to a dirty air filter? In fact, only 39% of Americans change their air filters on a regular basis. Because of this shocking statistic, this is the first thing you will want to check in the event of a broken furnace. Next, you should check your thermostat settings to ensure it is set to heat and at your desired temperature. On top of that, if your thermostat is battery operated, you may want to replace the batteries as an extra precaution. After that, you will need to know what type of furnace you have, gas or electric. Knowing which one your home is equipped with will determine your next step. Finally, if you have an electric furnace, you will need to locate and open your fuse box. Remember that technology is our friend, but not always our best friend. Because of this, your HVAC system could have easily tripped a breaker on your electrical panel. If so, flip the switch that goes to your HVAC system back into the “on” position. However, if you have a gas furnace, check if your pilot light is lit. If you don’t see a blue flame, you’ll need to relight the flame. Last but not least, call a professional to report your breakdown and schedule an appointment if you need help with any of the steps above. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our home heating experts at Springfield Heating & Cooling.
How Can I Keep My Home Warm?
You may think that there isn’t a way to keep warm once your furnace goes out, but you can do a few things to keep the heat rising. If you want to buy items to stay warm, our professionals recommend purchasing window sealant and door draft stoppers. In addition, you can buy extra hand warmers, burners, firewood, and heated blankets. Lastly, if you have a baker in the home, this would be the best time to start baking something extraordinary to indulge in. As an added bonus, turning the stovetop and oven on brings more heat. However, don’t forget to turn off all appliances once you are done baking. Keeping an empty oven on is a severe fire hazard.
How Can I Keep the Cold Air Outside?
Those annoying cold drafts usually come from small spaces near windows and under your doors. However, to prevent the freezing temperatures outside, where they belong, you can use different household items to seal window and door seals. For example, you can use a professional sealant. Nevertheless, if you’re trying to be budget-friendly, you can wrap up old towels and stick them under doors and around your windows. Another thing to do is to stay busy. Pick up of those household projects around you’ve been meaning to do. Getting on the move and staying distracted will keep your mind overthinking and worrying about the cold.
As usual, providing our customers with Five-Star service brings us joy, and it is an honor to give tips and tricks like these on our blogs. So, if you have any questions about what to do if your heat goes out this winter or to schedule an appointment regarding a furnace breakdown, then call Springfield Heating & Cooling today! You can reach us at (937) 350-1881, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
