When your heating suddenly stops working it’s very stressful- especially in the middle of winter. Fortunately, heating issues can be resolved with only a few simple checks that you can do yourself. The most common, but simple to fix, issues include dirty air filters, tripped breakers, or even just thermostat settings that need to be adjusted.

 

• Start With Safety First

If you smell gas, hear hissing, or notice burning odors, immediately evacuate everyone inside your home and call 911 or your gas company from a safe distance. A gas leak is a serious fire/explosion risk, and you must get out fast.

• Look at the Thermostat

If you do not smell gas, hear hissing, or notice burning odors, you can move onto this next step. Always start with the thermostat- many heating outages are caused by incorrect settings or dead batteries. Check if the settings are on heating mode, not cooling. If there is nothing on the screen, you need to change the batteries.

• Other Solutions to Try

Check the Breaker Panel

A tripped breaker can shut down your heating system without warning. Turn it completely off and back on to reset. If it trips immediately, stop. Check the airflow: replace the air filter if needed and ensure all vents are open. If the breaker already tripped once, wait around 30 minutes before trying again. If it keeps tripping, don’t keep resetting it. Call us at (505) 596-7773 for help. 

Replace or Clean the Air Filter

A clogged air filter seriously restricts airflow and makes the furnace work harder, uneven heating, and even higher energy bills.

Inspect Your Vents & Airflow

Vents and airflow are necessary for distributing the heated air. Start by turning off power, checking the exhaust for blockages, and inspecting internal vents for dust using a flashlight. A borescope or camera helps see inside ducts for mold, pests, or significant dust. For major issues, this might require professional cleaning.

• Prevent It From Happening Again

Annual Maintenance

Regular checks catch worn out components early and reduce emergency breakdowns.

Replace Filters Regularly

Replace your filters every 1-3 months, depending on your home and climate.

• When Repairing Isn’t Worth It Anymore

Some heating failures are signs that the system is reaching the end of its lifespan.

• • Your System Is Over 10-20 Years Old
  • Furnaces usually last 15-20 years

• Heat pumps last 10-15 years

Your Energy Bills Keep Rising

If your energy bills are higher than usual, this means that your system is working harder than it needs to be to heat your home.

Frequent Repairs

If you keep repairing your heating system over and over again, it might be cheaper to upgrade

Get Warm Again- And Stay Warm

Start with troubleshooting steps, many heating outages can just be easy to fix issues. But if your system is getting older, inefficient, and constantly breaking down you should upgrade. Totally Cool Air can help you upgrade to a modern furnace or heat pump so you can save money, reduce stress, and keep your home warm no matter what.