How Can You Protect Your Home During a Furnace Outage?

A furnace outage is the last thing you need during a cold Ohio winter. Nevertheless, loss of heating may result from causes ranging from power outages on the grid to a malfunction in the furnace itself. When it’s really cold outside, an unheated house begins losing warmth fast and is at risk from very low temperatures.

First, check the furnace thermostat. Confirm that the thermostat switch is in the “On” position and set to “Heat.” Make sure the temperature setting is in the normal range. If there’s still no heat, it’s time to contact a certified HVAC contractor and schedule a service call ASAP to address the furnace outage.

Meanwhile, protect your house during a furnace outage until heat can be restored. Here are some suggestions:

• Open faucets throughout the house to a slow drip to prevent frozen pipes. Without heat, pipes can freeze in very low outdoor temperatures after only a few hours. A broken pipe can inflict severe damage to the structure of the house, as well as to possessions.
• Test the shutoff valve. If a pipe rupture should occur due to frigid temperatures, reduce damage by quickly turning off the main water-shut-off valve. Know the location of the valve. Also, since shut-off valves are often rusted and difficult to turn, test the valve in advance. If stuck or excessively hard to operate, contact a plumber to repair or replace the valve.
• Use space heaters. If you still have electricity, space heaters can keep small areas warm. Protect against fire hazards by placing heaters at least 3 feet away from other objects. Turn the unit off when you leave the room. For electrical safety, space heaters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet — not an extension cord.
• Keep the garage door closed. An open garage door is an enormous entry point through which cold outdoor air may infiltrate the house structure more readily. Frigid air influx may also freeze pipes routed through the garage and the water heater, which is often installed there.

Talk to the experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning for more information about protecting your home during a furnace outage.