Furnace breaking down is an anxious situation, especially if it happens on the coldest day of the year. Even the most of well-maintained systems, every now and then can fail.
Maintaining a regular furnace tune up schedule may really help in keeping away from an unexpected failure. Despite these precautions, furnaces sometimes break. Here we will cover the crucial steps you need to follow as soon as your furnace is malfunctioning.
If You Smell Natural Gas, Get Away From That Area
If you smell natural gas, which is often associated with the rotten egg odor of mercaptan, get out of your house right away.
This is an example of a hazard where natural gas leaks are not to be taken lightly.
Do not switch on or off any electrical switches, do not use telephones inside the house and also do not light matches as all these create sparks which are perilous.
When you leave make sure any windows that could be opened could remain ventilated, but do not stick around.) Call 911 or your utility company when you are safely outside.
Switch to Safe Substitute Heating Methods
If your furnace is not working and you’ve eliminated the possibility of a gas leak, find safe alternatives to stay warm until you can have it fixed.
Electric space heaters and fireplaces are good options for short-term use, if they are used properly. Do not use an oven or a powered outdoor heater indoors. These are dangerous and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Try Some Basic Solutions
Look for common and easy-to-fix problems before calling for professional help:
- Pilot Light Check: If you have an older style furnace with a pilot light, make sure the pilot light is on.
- Fuse or Circuit Breaker: Confirm that the fuse protecting the furnace isn’t blown or circuit breaker tripped. Such problems largely have a favourable remedy without special attention.
If these easy steps do not help your furnace work again and you are confused about the next step to take, call a professional.
Prevent Pipes from Freezing
If you do not have your furnace working when it is cold out, there is the potential for your pipes to freeze and burst.
Make sure to keep the heaters on in key areas where the temperature can dip below 32 degrees F. If you anticipate a long wait for repairs, you can also take the precaution of draining water from your pipes.
Retain Heat inside Your Home
Keep all windows, doors and curtains closed to reduce heat loss. Getting drafts sealed and unused rooms blocked off should help keep things warm as you wait for your furnace to be fixed.
Final Thoughts
Fixing a malfunction furnace on your own could be pretty dangerous — especially in particularly problematic circumstances.
Never use the oven for heat, and do not bring outside heating devices indoors. Incompetent furnace repairs can exacerbate major problems and lead to pricier repair bills down the line. When it comes to bigger problems, you’ll always want to get the pros involved.
Day and Night Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling specializes in furnace inspection, diagnosis, repair, replacement, and service throughout Albuquerque as well as Rio Rancho, Placitas and other nearby areas.
Our highly trained technicians can quickly identify the problem and repair it so that your home continues to be a comfortable and safe place. Call them today for the prompt and reliable furnace repair services.
