Emergency Furnace Repair: What to Do before You Call a Technician

Heating systems, including our furnaces at home, fail mostly during winter, leaving us in the cold when we need them the most.

If you have emergency furnace repairs Calgary to deal with, there are important steps you can take to stay safe and warm before your technician arrives. Here are some of the steps you can take:

1.Take a Look at the Breaker

There is a chance that a breaker trip might have affected your furnace. So, go to the breaker box and ensure none of the circuits are tripped. If one has tripped, ask an expert for advice on how to prevent it from tripping again.

2.Check the Thermostat

Ensure your thermostat is set to ‘heat’ and on. This might sound very obvious, but many technicians receive calls from homeowners because they have no idea that a child or guest could have tampered with the settings.

If your room temperatures are lower than those of the thermostat settings, try adjusting the thermostat to see whether the system kicks in.

3.Look for any Blocked Vents.

If vents are closed or blocked, your system may shut off and overheat. Look at the air grills in your home to ensure objects, furniture, rugs, and curtains are not blocking them. The system’s vent louvres should be open, too. If some are closed, take them to an open place and see whether the system will kick in.

4.Have a Backup Heat

Another heat source will be a lifesaver for you and your family. A portable oil-fired electric heater will provide a temporary source of heat before a technician comes to your place. Don’t use a heat source that burns fuels or produces flames unless an expert has properly installed it to vent out exhaust.

5. Consider Checking the Gas Valves

If you own a gas heating system, turn over gas valves to cut its fuel supply. Service technicians might have turned them off but forgot to turn them back on. To turn it back on, look for the valve, which might be along the system’s gas line between the meter and the furnace. Turn the handle until it is line or parallel if it is perpendicular to the system’s pipe.

6.Inspect the Indoor Equipment

Furnaces or indoor air handlers look like big metal boxes. This helps hold the unit’s essential components. If you look closely, you will notice there are doors that technicians use to access or reach components during servicing. In some units, those access doors should be closed completely. Failure to close the doors, the unit won’t turn on. So, inspect the access panels of the equipment to ensure they are all secure. Also, secure loose or open panels in the closed position and see whether the unit runs.

7. Closely Check the Furnace Filters

Overloaded or clogged furnace filters may cause your unit to stop functioning. If it shuts down, check the unit’s inside and ensure it has a clean and fresh filter.

In conclusion, malfunctioning units are not just uncomfortable. They may also result in safety risks and high energy bills. This is why it is important to regularly check your system and contact a technician to fix the unit if there is an issue.