If the most recent snowstorm in the Stafford and Fredericksburg area is any indicator, it is very important to have a plan for when the heat goes out. Whether you have lost heat because the power is out or because of an issue with your furnace it is important to have a plan in place to help keep you and your family warm. Especially during the winter months when heat is necessary for survival.
Luckily our team at Express Tech Air knows just how important having heat in your home is, which is why we are here to help get things back up and running so that you can live comfortably.
The winter season can bring harsh conditions which is why it is important to know how to stay warm after the heat goes out. While it is important for your furnace and HVAC system to undergo regular maintenance, there are always unexpected circumstances that can occur. Rember that snowstorm we mentioned above? People had no power and heat for days in freezing temperatures. So knowing what to do when your heat goes out to keep you and your family safe and warm is essential.
If the heat goes out and you have a gas furnace it is important for you to turn off the gas immediately. This will help to prevent any carbon monoxide leaks or gas fires.
Something you may want to consider if you are trying to stay warm after the heat goes out is to do some baking. Turning on the oven will help provide you with warmth in your home until you can have your heater or furnace fixed!
Taking the time to close off any unused rooms in your home. This will help ensure heat isn’t dissipating into other areas of the house while also helping to conserve heat.
If you have a fireplace in your home you can use it as a source of warmth when your heat goes out during the winter. If you have a gas or electric fireplace you can use it to make at least one room in your home nice and warm for you and your family.
However, if you don’t have a fireplace in your home another option for heating a room is a space heater. If you are using a space heater make sure to place it at least three feet away from anything that could be flammable. Don’t forget, heaters can provide heat but they also pose a fire risk when used incorrectly.
Alternatively, you can also use a portable non-electric space heater to help warm your house when the heat goes out. This is great to have on hand if your power goes out during winter and you need a way to stay warm. However, it is important for you to make sure that your propane heater is safe to be indoors because many of these heaters are designed solely for outdoor use. If you use an outdoor propane heater indoors it can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide buildup.
If your heat goes out in the middle of winter you will want your home to be as airtight as possible. Doing this will help make sure that any heat left in your home is unable to escape. You will want to make sure to close all of your windows to make sure there are no leaks before pulling the drapes and make sure that there is no draft coming in from underneath your doors. If there is, you can roll up a towel and place it along the bottom of the door as a door stopper.
Now that you have a better idea of how to beat the cold when your heat goes out, you are probably ready to figure out the culprit behind your heating problems. So what are some of the most common reasons heat goes out?
One of the most common reasons why your heat goes out in your home is because there is a problem with your thermostat. If it’s showing that you are heating when you are not, or if it isn’t telling the furnace to heat at all, heat will not come out of your vents.
The next culprit behind your heat going out in your home is if the levels of refrigerant are too low. This can be caused by a leak, which could lead to many issues down the line such as mold and damage to your HVAC system.
Another common reason heat may go out in your home is because of faulty ductwork. If the system is set to heat but not sending any heat through it, you will want to make sure that all vents have been cleared and that there aren’t any leaks or holes in your ducts before calling for a repair person.
When the heat goes out it could be because the blower capacitor isn’t working. If this is the case, your furnace will not turn on and you will likely hear a humming noise.
The final reason we are going to touch on is poor maintenance. When the heat goes out on its own and not due to a storm or power outage it is most likely because you haven’t been taking care of your furnace. All of the issues we have mentioned above can be prevented by regular heating maintenance and furnace maintenance.
Heating maintenance is key in ensuring your furnace is running at its best and will help to prevent any of the common problems that can lead to your heat going out.
If you are having trouble with your heat, our team at Express Tech Air is here to help. We can diagnose and repair any issue that may be causing your heat to go out. We also offer regular heating maintenance to help prevent any of these problems from happening in the future. Contact us today for more information on how to make sure your family is warm during the coldest months of the year!
