A complete loss of heat in cold weather is urgent. Pipes can freeze, and living conditions become unsafe, especially for older residents, children, and pets. Before you call, a few quick checks can rule out the simplest causes — and knowing what NOT to do matters just as much.
Quick checks before you call
- Thermostat: Confirm it is set to heat, set above the current room temperature, and has working batteries if it uses them. A thermostat accidentally set to cool or off is the most common false alarm.
- Breaker: Check whether the breaker for the heating system has tripped. If it has, reset it once. If it trips again immediately, leave it off and call — a breaker that keeps tripping signals an electrical problem.
- Filter: A severely clogged filter can shut a system down or starve it of airflow. If the filter is visibly dirty, replace it.
- Vents: Confirm supply vents and returns are open and unblocked.
- What you noticed: Note when the heat stopped, any noises, smells, or error codes on the unit, and whether some rooms still have heat. That information helps a technician diagnose faster.
What NOT to do
- Do not attempt gas or electrical repairs yourself. Gas valves, ignition systems, and wiring are not homeowner jobs.
- Do not use the oven, a grill, or an unvented heater to heat the home. Those create carbon monoxide risk and fire risk.
- Do not keep resetting a tripped breaker over and over.
- Do not ignore a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm while you troubleshoot. Safety comes first, always.
If you smell gas or your CO alarm sounds — leave immediately
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or you smell gas, or you suspect CO exposure:
- Leave immediately. Get everyone, including pets, out of the home. Do not stop to open windows, gather belongings, or investigate the source.
- Call 911 or PGW from outside. Call from a neighbor’s phone or your mobile phone once you are outside, away from the home.
- Do not flip switches. Do not turn lights, appliances, or electrical switches on or off inside the home, and do not use phones inside the home.
- Do not re-enter until emergency responders or PGW clear the home as safe.
- Seek medical attention if anyone has symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion, even if symptoms seem mild.
While you wait for help
Keep the home as warm as possible without using unsafe heaters: close off unused rooms, close curtains at night, and keep interior doors open to rooms with plumbing so warm air reaches the pipes. If temperatures are below freezing and the heat will be off for a while, letting taps drip slightly can help reduce pipe-freeze risk — but it is not a substitute for getting the heat restored.
When to call promptly
Call promptly if the heat is fully out in cold weather, if the system keeps shutting itself off, if you notice a gas smell, if a CO alarm sounds, or if the boiler is leaking, losing pressure repeatedly, or making new loud noises. A no-heat call in January is a different job from a tune-up in November — do not wait for a mild day that may not come.
Call Philly HVAC Connect at (267) 736-0383 or visit https://phillyhvacconnect.com/contact/ to talk through your job.