A heating system failure during a significant winter storm creates a genuinely concerning situation, particularly for vulnerable household members. Old Glory Air Conditioning and Heating shares practical safety steps for Arlington area homeowners facing this scenario.
Before assuming a complete system failure, quickly checking your thermostat settings, circuit breaker, and, for gas furnaces, the pilot light or ignition system, can sometimes reveal a simple fix you can address immediately.
If your heating system has failed, closing doors to unused rooms helps concentrate whatever residual warmth remains in the areas where your family is spending time, making the space more manageable while waiting for repairs.
If you have a safe alternative heat source, such as a properly vented fireplace, use it according to manufacturer and safety guidelines. Avoid using ovens or other cooking appliances as heating sources, as this poses serious safety risks including carbon monoxide exposure.
Dressing in layers and using extra blankets helps maintain body warmth while waiting for your heating system to be repaired, particularly important for young children, elderly family members, or anyone with health conditions sensitive to cold.
During extended heating outages in freezing temperatures, allowing faucets to drip slightly can help prevent pipes from freezing and potentially bursting, which would create an additional emergency on top of the heating failure.
Reaching out to your HVAC company as soon as you notice the heating failure, providing clear details about what you're experiencing, helps ensure you're in the queue for emergency service as quickly as possible during a high-demand weather event.
If indoor temperatures drop to genuinely unsafe levels and repair isn't imminent, having a plan to relocate to a friend or family member's home, or a public warming shelter if available, protects your household's safety until heat is restored.
Pay attention to signs of excessive cold exposure in family members, particularly children, older adults, and pets, who are more vulnerable to cold-related health issues during an extended heating outage.
Understand that during widespread severe weather events, many households may be experiencing similar heating emergencies simultaneously, which can affect response times even with a reliable HVAC provider.
Our team understands the urgency of heating failures during severe winter weather and works to respond as quickly as possible to help Arlington area families stay safe and warm.
