In the cold depths of a Missouri winter, the furnace in your home provides comfort, heat, and air circulation to all who live there. The furnace is a key component in the home's overall heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). In the winter, when temperatures can drop into the negatives for days at a time, the furnace is the only appliance in the home that can keep the environment livable, prevent the pipes from freezing, and keep your family safe from the dangerous cold. What happens when the furnace stops working? What should you do? Should you try to fix the furnace yourself? Who do you call for emergency furnace repair in Springfield or the surrounding area? We'll take a look at a few tips on what you should do when the furnace stops working. First, here’s a little helpful information about home furnaces:
Understanding home furnace lifespan and maintenance:
You’ll find many brands and manufacturers of home furnaces. You may have heard of trusted furnace brands such as Ruud, Goodman, and Bryant. Each is a quality furnace brand that's popular with homeowners and home builders alike because they’re built well and come with excellent warranties. As with any major appliance, though, your furnace will only operate for so long before it has a breakdown. Even under perfect operating conditions and regular seasonal maintenance, your furnace is just a piece of equipment. It has moving parts. It will someday stop working properly and require servicing. The average lifespan of a home furnace (depending on whom you ask) is anywhere between 15 and 25 years. Some top models may run reliably for as long as 30 years. In any case, if your home furnace is over 15 years old, it's not a bad idea to have it regularly serviced by Springfield heating and cooling professional.
Here’s what you should do when the furnace stops working during the winter:
1. If you live in Springfield, Missouri or any of the surrounding cities, immediately call a Springfield furnace repair specialist such as ATS Heating and Cooling.
2. If you have a gas or wood-burning fireplace, you can provide heat to portions of the house by opening the flue and lighting a fire. However, please use all fire-safety precautions when starting a fire in your fireplace.
3. Open the cabinet doors beneath your sinks in the kitchen and bathroom to help prevent the pipes from freezing.
4. If you have drafty windows and doors, close the drapes and hang towels or blankets to minimize the flow of cold air into the rooms.
5. Close the doors to any unnecessary rooms in the house (guest rooms, hobby rooms, media rooms) to keep as much of the warm air in the heart of the home.
6. Minimize traffic in and out of the house. Every time you open a door to go outside, you're letting in cold air.
7. If the furnace goes out during the night, gather the family together in one room for a slumber party. A space heater can be used to keep the room warm, but please use all safety precautions with your space heaters.
8. Avoid using the stove or oven to warm the house. This is a fire hazard in the making.
9. Dress warmly and break out the spare blankets.
10. Keep in mind that the house will retain enough heat to prevent the pipes from freezing for a day or so, but an extended period without heat, especially during a bitter cold spell, may result in frozen or burst pipes.
ATS Heating and Cooling is your trusted source for furnace repair services in Springfield, Missouri and the surrounding Ozarks. Thanks to our professionally trained technicians and a commitment to customer service, you can rest assured that your home or business will be comfortable, healthy, safe, and energy efficient. Call 417-831-5344 for hassle-free scheduling today!
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