HVAC emergencies always seem to strike at the worst possible time—during the hottest summer days or coldest winter nights. While calling a professional should be your first priority, knowing what immediate actions to take can prevent further damage, maintain some level of comfort, and potentially save you money. Here are the essential steps every homeowner should take when facing a heating or cooling emergency.
1. Assess the Situation and Stay Calm
When your HVAC system fails, the first step is determining the severity and type of emergency you're facing.
Immediate safety concerns:
- Gas smell: Leave immediately and call your gas company from outside
- Burning smell or smoke: Shut off power and call emergency services
- Carbon monoxide alarm: Evacuate and call 911
- Water leaking significantly: Shut off water supply to prevent flooding
Non-emergency failures:
- System won't turn on
- System runs but provides no heating/cooling
- Strange noises but system still operating
- Weak airflow from vents
Safety first: Never ignore gas odors, burning smells, or carbon monoxide alarms. These situations require immediate evacuation and emergency services—not troubleshooting.
2. Check Your Thermostat Settings
Before assuming major system failure, verify your thermostat is set correctly. Many "emergencies" are simply thermostat issues that homeowners can resolve in minutes.
Thermostat troubleshooting:
- Verify the system is set to COOL (summer) or HEAT (winter), not OFF
- Check that temperature setting is appropriate (lower than room temp for cooling, higher for heating)
- Ensure fan setting is on AUTO, not ON (constant fan operation)
- Replace batteries in battery-operated thermostats
- Check that the thermostat display is active and responsive
Pro tip: If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, check whether schedule changes or vacation settings have unexpectedly activated. These features sometimes cause confusion when systems don't operate as expected.
3. Inspect Your Electrical Panel
Many HVAC "failures" result from tripped circuit breakers cutting power to the system. This simple check takes seconds and might solve your problem immediately.
Steps to check:
- Locate your home's electrical panel
- Look for tripped breakers (switch in middle position or OFF)
- Identify HVAC-related breakers (often labeled "furnace," "AC," or "HVAC")
- Check both indoor air handler and outdoor condenser breakers
- Reset any tripped breakers by switching fully OFF then back ON
When breakers trip repeatedly: If a breaker trips again immediately or within minutes of resetting, stop trying—this indicates a serious electrical problem requiring professional repair. Continuing to reset tripped breakers can cause damage or create fire hazards.
Outdoor disconnect switch: Check the disconnect box near your outdoor unit. This safety switch should be in the ON position. Someone may have accidentally turned it off during yard work.
4. Check and Replace Air Filters
Severely clogged air filters cause numerous HVAC problems and can trigger system shutdowns as a safety measure. This quick check takes minutes and might restore operation.
Why filters matter in emergencies:
- Restricted airflow triggers safety switches that shut down systems
- Frozen evaporator coils from poor airflow stop cooling
- Overheating furnaces shut down to prevent damage
- Strain on blower motors can cause complete failure
Immediate action: Remove your air filter and inspect it. If you can't see light through it or it's visibly caked with dust, replace it immediately. Even if you don't have a new filter, running temporarily without one is better than running with a completely blocked filter during an emergency.
Prevention tip: Keep spare filters on hand so you're never caught without one during an emergency. Set calendar reminders for monthly filter checks to prevent this issue entirely.
5. Inspect the Outdoor Unit (Air Conditioners)
For cooling emergencies, the outdoor condenser unit deserves immediate attention. Several simple issues can prevent operation and are easy to identify.
Check for obstructions:
- Clear debris, leaves, and grass clippings from around the unit
- Remove items stored too close to the unit (need 2 feet clearance)
- Check that the unit isn't buried in snow (winter heat pumps)
- Ensure nothing is blocking the fan from spinning
Look for obvious damage:
- Fan not spinning when system attempts to run
- Visible ice buildup on the unit (indicates airflow problems)
- Bent or damaged refrigerant lines
- Unusual noises like grinding or squealing
Listen for activity: When your thermostat calls for cooling, listen at the outdoor unit. You should hear the fan motor and compressor running. If you hear humming but nothing runs, this indicates electrical problems requiring professional repair.
6. Implement Temporary Comfort Solutions
While waiting for professional service, take steps to maintain tolerable conditions and protect your home.
During summer cooling emergencies:
- Close blinds and curtains to block solar heat gain
- Use portable fans to circulate air and create wind chill effect
- Stay hydrated and dress in light, breathable clothing
- Move activities to coolest areas of home (typically basements)
- Close off unused rooms to focus cooling in occupied areas
- Run bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to remove hot air
- Place bowls of ice in front of fans for makeshift cooling
- Avoid using heat-generating appliances (ovens, dishwashers, dryers)
During winter heating emergencies:
- Use space heaters safely (UL-listed, on stable surfaces, 3 feet from combustibles)
- Never use gas stoves or ovens for heating—carbon monoxide danger
- Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air down (clockwise rotation)
- Close off unused rooms to concentrate heat in main areas
- Cover windows with blankets or heavy drapes to prevent heat loss
- Dress in layers and use blankets
- Move activities to a single room and close doors
- Open cabinet doors under sinks along exterior walls to prevent pipe freezing
Safety warnings:
- Never leave space heaters unattended
- Keep space heaters away from water and flammable materials
- Don't run extension cords under rugs or through doorways
- Never use generators indoors—carbon monoxide is deadly
- Monitor indoor temperatures to prevent pipe freezing (keep above 55°F)
7. Call a 24/7 Emergency HVAC Service
Once you've taken immediate safety measures and attempted basic troubleshooting, professional help is essential. HVAC systems are complex, and attempting DIY repairs can be dangerous and make problems worse.
When to call immediately:
- Gas odors or suspected leaks (after evacuating and calling gas company)
- Complete system failure during extreme weather
- Strange electrical smells or sparking
- Water leaking extensively from indoor unit
- Frozen heat pump during winter
- Furnace heat exchanger cracks (yellow or flickering pilot flame)
- System short-cycling (rapidly turning on and off)
What to tell the emergency technician:
- When the problem started
- What symptoms you're experiencing
- Any unusual sounds, smells, or behaviors
- What troubleshooting you've already attempted
- Make, model, and age of your system (if known)
- Whether it's a complete failure or intermittent problem
Pro tip: Take photos or videos of error codes, gauge readings, or unusual conditions to show the technician. This information helps them arrive prepared with the right parts and tools.
Prevent Future HVAC Emergencies
Once your current emergency is resolved, take steps to prevent future failures:
Regular maintenance: Schedule professional tune-ups twice yearly (spring and fall). Maintenance catches small problems before they become emergencies and keeps warranties valid.
Quality air filters: Use quality filters and replace them on schedule. This simple task prevents many emergency situations.
Listen to your system: Unusual sounds often signal developing problems. Addressing them early prevents midnight emergencies.
Age awareness: Systems over 15 years old become increasingly prone to failures. Consider replacement before complete breakdown.
Maintenance agreements: Our maintenance plans provide priority emergency service, regular tune-ups, and discounts on repairs—valuable protection when emergencies strike.
24/7 Emergency Service You Can Trust
HVAC emergencies don't wait for business hours, and neither do we. Our certified technicians provide 24/7 emergency service with:
- Rapid response times to restore your comfort quickly
- Fully stocked service vehicles for most repairs on first visit
- Upfront pricing with no surprises
- Expert diagnosis and lasting repairs
- Guaranteed workmanship
Don't suffer through extreme temperatures or risk further damage to your system. When HVAC emergencies strike, our team is ready to help—day or night, weekends and holidays. Contact us immediately for fast, professional emergency service.
