What Happens When Your Heater Stops Working in the Middle of Winter?
The winters in Virginia and Maryland can get incredibly cold. The last thing you want to deal with is a problem with your furnace. When your heater goes out, your home not only becomes uncomfortable quickly, but it can pose a hazard for you, your family, and your pets. If your heater goes down in the middle of winter, do you know what to do?
At Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we know how important it is that your home stays warm and comfortable, even when disaster strikes. Below we provide some helpful tips for staying warm when the heat goes out. Keep reading.
Tip #1: Call for Emergency Heater Repair Service First
Did you know that no heat in the middle of the winter is considered an emergency? Many people are hesitant to call for emergency repair services because they are unaware that no heating is regarded as an emergency in the winter. Well, it is! When the heat goes out, and the temperatures drop, it can create an unsafe condition in your home. Therefore, if your heater stops working, the first thing you should do is reach out to an experienced emergency heater repair technician right away.
Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing are proud to offer emergency heating repair service seven days a week to residents in Virginia and Maryland. Conveniently located in Sterling, VA, our NATE Certified Technicians are fast, reliable, and trustworthy.
Keep reading for more heating troubleshooting tips.
Tip #2: Check Your Thermostat Settings
If your heater suddenly stops working, check your thermostat settings. Many people have smart thermostats that automatically adjust depending on the conditions in your home and whether they detect if you are home or away. It is not uncommon for a smart thermostat to lose connectivity (such as when the internet goes out during a storm), and when they reconnect, they may need to be reset. In addition to confirming that your thermostat is working and set to heat mode, you should also check its automated schedule to verify that the heater is scheduled to come on when it is supposed to.
If your thermostat is broken, give us a call. We can send out a skilled repair technician to either fix the issue or help you select and install a new thermostat.
Tip #3: Check Your Electrical Panel, Gas Valve, & Pilot Light
Depending on the type of furnace or heater you have, the problem may be a thrown breaker, a pilot light that has gone out, or the gas valve has been mistakenly turned off. Check these things to ensure that power and/or fuel is getting to your furnace. If you find that any of these issues are the source of your problem, you can fix the problem yourself without calling in a repair technician. However, if you do not know how to relight your pilot light or are unfamiliar with turning the gas back on, you can reach out to Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for guidance. We are always happy to help our customers.
Tip #4: Take Measures to Keep Warm
If the problem with your heater can’t be easily resolved on your own, and you are currently waiting for a repair appointment, you want to make sure you stay warm and avoid the heat you already have you’re your home. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep warm in the meantime. See below.
To help keep your home warm when the heating goes out, try:
- Keeping all blinds and curtains closed to help further insulate your home from the cold temperatures outside
- Using your fireplace or woodburning stove if you have one
- Purchase or use electric space heaters if your heater is out, but your electricity is still on – be sure to follow all safety guidelines and do not leave space heaters on while sleeping or leave them unattended
- Stay inside and avoid opening and closing exterior doors and windows as much as possible
- Have the family stay together in the same room instead of spreading out around the house – the more people in the room, the warmer the room will remain, and the more comfortable you will be
If your heater has gone out, you may also be concerned about your plumbing system. The ambient temperature inside your home plays a major role in ensuring that pipes don’t freeze, and when your heater isn’t working, your plumbing system is more susceptible to the cold. Turn on your faucets to a light trickle and let them run, especially overnight, to avoid standing water freezing inside your pipes.
No one wants their heating to go out, but when it does, the sooner you act, the better. Reach out to Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for help. We are here for you when you need us most.