It's 9 p.m. The temperature is dropping, and your furnace just stopped heating your home. Your first thought might be: "I need someone here right now." In most cases, a furnace that has stopped heating isn't an emergency that requires immediate, after-hours service.
If your home is maintaining a safe temperature and there are no signs of a gas leak, carbon monoxide, fire, or another immediate safety concern, it is most likely perfectly reasonable to wait until morning and schedule a regular furnace repair appointment.
Here's what to know if your furnace stops working after hours.
Before assuming your furnace has completely failed, there are a few basic things you can safely check yourself.
Make sure it is set to Heat, set to a temperature higher than the current room temperature, displaying normally, and running on fresh batteries if applicable. If your thermostat is blank, the issue may be related to power rather than the furnace itself.
A severely dirty air filter can restrict airflow and cause some furnaces to shut down or cycle improperly. If the filter is visibly dirty, replace it with the correct size and type for your system. If you're unsure which filter your system needs, your HVAC professional can help.
If your furnace has an accessible service switch, make sure it hasn't accidentally been turned off. You can also check your home's electrical panel for a tripped breaker.
Don't remove furnace panels or attempt electrical repairs yourself. If these basic checks don't solve the problem, it's time to have a professional diagnose the system.
One of the biggest reasons homeowners panic when their furnace stops working is the fear that their house is going to become freezing cold within a few hours. That's not usually how it works.
A home doesn't immediately drop to the outdoor temperature when the furnace shuts off. Your walls, floors, furniture and other materials retain heat, and the rate at which your home cools depends on factors like insulation, outdoor temperature, wind, home size and construction.
In many homes, it can take several hours for the indoor temperature to drop significantly. A home that is around 68–70°F when the furnace stops isn't going to suddenly become 20°F just because the furnace is off. Older or draftier homes may cool more quickly, while newer or well-insulated homes may hold their temperature longer.
In most typical situations, a few hours without heat isn't enough to make the plumbing throughout your home suddenly freeze. Your home's interior temperature will generally remain well above the outdoor temperature for some time after the furnace stops running. The important thing is not to assume that a few hours without heat automatically means frozen pipes are waiting to happen.
Waiting until morning can have some advantages, too. You'll have time to get a proper diagnosis without the pressure of making a decision late at night, understand your repair options and costs, check whether your equipment is still under warranty, and schedule service during normal business hours.
If your home is still at a comfortable temperature, you may not need to do much at all. Close doors to unused rooms, gather some extra blankets, and keep everyone comfortable in the warmer areas of the house.
An electric oven can add heat to your kitchen while it is operating, and an electric oven does not produce combustion gases the way a gas oven does. If you choose to use an electric oven for supplemental warmth, use it carefully and never leave it unattended or use it as an overnight heating source.
Never use a gas oven or range to heat your home. Gas-burning appliances can produce carbon monoxide, and using them as a source of home heating is not safe.
Follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. Keep it on a stable surface away from curtains, bedding, furniture and other flammable materials, and don't leave it running unattended.
If your home has a properly installed and vented fireplace or another approved heating source, follow the manufacturer's instructions for safe use.
There are situations where you shouldn't wait until morning. Seek immediate help if you experience:
If you smell gas, don't try to diagnose the furnace yourself. Leave the area and contact your gas utility or emergency services as appropriate.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home immediately and call 911 or your local emergency response service.
When it comes to a potential safety issue, don't wait for morning.
Our technicians and installers spend their days doing demanding, hands-on work: diagnosing problems, making repairs, installing equipment, and helping homeowners stay comfortable. At the end of the day, they deserve time to go home, recharge, and be with their families.
And we believe that matters for our customers, too. A rested technician is a focused technician. When our team arrives at your home, we want them to have the energy and attention to diagnose the problem carefully, explain your options clearly, and do the job right.
That's one reason we don't believe every furnace outage needs to turn into a middle-of-the-night service call. When a situation can safely wait until morning, we'd rather have our technicians get the rest they need and come to your home ready to give you their full attention.
Even when your furnace problem isn't an emergency, you don't have to wait until morning just to get the process started. Our 24-hour AI assistant is available day or night to answer a few initial questions and get your service appointment scheduled for the next available time.
The ideal time to discover a furnace problem isn't 10 p.m. on the coldest night of the year. Regular furnace maintenance can help identify potential problems before your heating system is working around the clock.
A professional heating system tune-up gives your technician an opportunity to check system performance, inspect important components, identify potential issues, and make recommendations before you need your furnace most. Fall is a great time to schedule yours.
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