What to Do When the Heat Goes Out in a Red Deer Winter

Quick checks

Thermostat on heat and set above room temperature, fresh batteries, breaker on, furnace switch on and furnace door closed properly. Many furnaces won't run if the door safety switch isn't pressed.

Filter and vents

Change a dirty filter and check that the plastic vent pipes on the outside wall aren't buried in snow or frost.

Note the code

If a light blinks through the furnace window, count the pattern and write it down for the technician.

Protect the pipes

Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, keep taps on exterior walls dripping and close off unused rooms to hold heat where people are.

Safe extra heat

Use only approved electric space heaters, away from curtains and bedding. Never use a barbecue, camp stove or generator indoors.

Gas and CO

If you smell gas, leave and contact the gas utility from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get out and dial 911.

Get it repaired

See furnace repair and send a request with what you've checked so far.

Pets and elderly family

Move pets and anyone vulnerable to the warmest room, or to friends or family with heat, if the repair will take a while.

After the repair

Run the furnace for a full cycle and check every room warms up. Keep an eye on the house overnight, and note anything the technician recommends for later.

More heating and cooling guides

• Dry Winter Air in Central Alberta Homes
• How Old Is Your Furnace, and Should You Replace It?
• Heat Pumps on the Parkland: Do They Make Sense Here?
• Cooling a Red Deer Home in a Heat Wave
• Furnace Filters Explained
• Choosing an HVAC Contractor in Central Alberta