It can be very troublesome if your furnace decides to just go down in the middle of the cold winter. Routine furnace maintenance and timely repairs are often able to prevent this sudden breakdown. But, even if you did carry out regular HVAC maintenance, the furnace can still face trouble due to other reasons like a power outage during storms or unforeseen breakdowns. Whatever the reason may be, losing the heat in your home during winters can be a real discomfort. There is nothing to panic about if something like this has happened though. You can still minimize the impact of a furnace failure by learning what to do when the furnace goes out in winter until the problem is fixed.
If you are experiencing furnace problems in the St. Louis area, and you are not able to detect the issue on your own, we are here to help. In St. Louis and the surrounding areas, call the heating and air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons at 314-993-1110 for any HVAC-related problem.
What to do When the Furnace Goes Out in Winter
The first thing to remember is to be calm. Situations like these often get people nervous and running around clueless. Yes, you want your family to be comfortable and save them from the cold as soon as possible. However, you can only find a solution when you think it through with a cool head. So calm down and decide the next step. For example, if your power is out, you might first want to call your electric company and let them know of the problem.
If your furnace goes out in the winter, the following steps can help keep you and your family comfortable.
- Wrap up in some more layers of warm clothes: To be able to function normally, you need to be warm. Only then, can you think of looking for a solution. So wrap yourself in some extra layers of warm clothing and make sure your family does that too. Once you are warm and comfortable, you can go ahead and look at what is wrong with your furnace.
- Let the sunlight in: If the power outage occurs during the day, open all the blinds and curtains to let the sunlight in. Sunlight can heat up your home to a certain extent, and you will probably be more comfortable until power is restored.
- Check for any drafts and seal door and windows: If it is windy outside, then drafty doors and windows can cause your home to get even colder. Check if there is a draft coming in from anywhere. If yes, seal those areas to prevent the cold outside air from coming in.
- Preferably, huddle up in the same room: It is much easier to keep everyone warm until the furnace kicks back on if everyone is in the same room. So get everyone to comfortably cozy up in one room with blankets and necessary items, instead of staying in individual rooms. More people in a single room can also make the room feel warmer.
- Install a backup generator before winter kicks in: Having a backup generator is also a good way to ensure that your HVAC unit keeps getting power even in case of a power outage in your locality. The backup generator does not need to power up your entire home, but certain necessary equipment can surely be kept running. For instance, the HVAC system, a few lights, the water heater, refrigerator, etc., can be connected to the generator for an uninterrupted power supply.
Hire an Experienced HVAC Technician to Get Things Back on Track
Now that you know what to do when your furnace goes out in winter, it should be easier to handle the situation. If the problem is not with the power supply but with the furnace instead, though, you will need a skilled HVAC repair technician to look at it. Galmiche & Sons has been in the HVAC maintenance and furnace repair business in St. Louis since 1950, serving residential and commercial clients throughout the area.
Get in touch with our heating and air conditioning experts to learn more about how we can help you.
