When your HVAC goes out during the winter, it isn’t just inconvenient; it can be deadly. Unfortunately, according to Murphy’s Law, the furnace typically quits on Sunday at 2 in the morning when all the HVAC companies are closed. How do you keep warm until office hours? Or, what happens if your heat goes out and you can’t get a repair service there quickly enough, would you know what to do in an emergency? These are some quick tips from James Island heating and air professionals about steps to take if your heating goes out this winter.
Conservation
The first law if your furnace goes out during the winter is conservation. Step one is to try to keep all the heat in your home by blocking out any cold drafts. Use rolled-up towels to shelter the bottom of exterior doors, and then drape blankets over them. Also, try not to go outdoors unless absolutely necessary. When you open the door, you can drop the temperature inside your home by as much as ten degrees. Also, try to get everyone to gather into one room of the house. That way, you can all huddle together and close the room off.
Use Your Fireplace
If you have a fireplace, now is the time to use it. But, again, conservation is going to be key. If you have limited firewood, make sure to use it only intermittently, and allow the room to cool in between. And if you aren’t using the fireplace, make sure to shut the flue, or it will allow cold air to enter the house. And it will also allow hot air to escape via the chimney.
Use a Space Heater
Use space heaters, but only if they are designed for indoor use. Heaters that run with propane can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. If you do use a kerosene heater, make sure to crack a window to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide. Also, make sure not to leave the space heater unattended. And do not place anything within three feet of it. Check to make sure that your carbon monoxide detector is in working order to prevent poisoning.
Be Aware of Ways to Keep the Heat in
Since you are all gathering in one room, it is a good idea to shut off any rooms that aren’t being used. The more you seal the house from the cold, the more you will keep the hot air in. Also, use your curtains wisely. If the sun is out, open them up and allow radiant heat to help keep your home warm. If it is cloudy or nighttime, make sure to close the curtains up tight to keep out the cold air and also to keep the hot air in.
Call an Emergency Repair Company
Call an emergency repair HVAC company. If they aren’t available to come out immediately, they will likely be able to troubleshoot on the phone to see if it is something that you might be able to fix yourself. If you can’t, then make sure to schedule an appointment immediately so that your family isn’t left without heat for too long.
Having your HVAC system not working is never good, but it is especially bad when the cold weather dips and things get dangerous. If your heating goes out, call an emergency repair company. But while you wait, make sure to take immediate steps to protect yourself from the cold with these quick emergency heating tips. The professionals at Carney & Son, a premier James Island heating and air company, are available to help in an emergency. Contact us immediately so that we can get your heating back up and running as soon as possible.