HEATING & COOLING / HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Furnace or heat pump not heating? Know what to do next.
Get safe first. Then get answers. A heating problem should come with an explanation of what failed, what needs fixing now and what can wait.
By ProjectSide · October 21, 2026
Gas smell or carbon monoxide alarm? Leave and get help.
For a CO alarm, CPSC directs occupants to move outside, call emergency services and stay out until responders allow reentry. For suspected gas, leave and contact your gas utility’s emergency line or emergency services from a safe location. Do not investigate equipment, operate switches or try to restart the heat during a suspected leak.
Tell the technician how your furnace or heat pump is failing.
Tell the service company whether you have a gas furnace, electric furnace, heat pump or ductless system. Does it fail to start, run without warming the home, stop repeatedly or heat only part of the house? Note any visible message and when it appears. You do not need to identify the failed part to ask for help.
Check only what the owner instructions allow.
If there is no safety concern, review thermostat mode and schedule using the equipment instructions. Tell the technician about recent thermostat changes, outages or service work. Do not bypass a safety control, open combustion equipment or repeatedly reset a lockout to force the system to run.
Ask for written findings if the heating system is unsafe.
If a technician says the equipment is unsafe, follow the safety direction and ask for a written account of the finding and the supporting evidence. A second qualified opinion can help with a major decision after the immediate hazard is addressed. Do not run equipment that has been identified as unsafe while comparing proposals.
Understand the heating repair before choosing replacement.
Ask what the proposed work fixes and which existing components remain. Find out about parts availability, warranty coverage and any additional work that might be needed. If replacement is the recommendation, ask why the diagnosed problem cannot reasonably be repaired and what the replacement scope includes.
Keep temporary heating safe while waiting for service.
Do not use an oven, outdoor grill or outdoor fuel-burning equipment to heat the home. Follow manufacturer directions for any temporary heater. If indoor conditions are unsafe, seek a safe place and prompt professional help. A free conversation with us can help with later proposal questions, but it is not an emergency response channel.
Questions before you decide.
Should I wait for three quotes when the heat is out?
Do not delay urgent safety or habitability needs for a bid comparison. Get appropriate service first, then evaluate longer-term work when it is safe to do so.
Does the age of my furnace prove it needs replacing?
Age is one consideration, not a diagnosis. Ask about the condition, failed component, repair feasibility and the scope of an appropriate replacement.
What information helps when I call for heating repair?
Have the system type, model if available, visible error message and a description of what happens when it tries to run. Mention unusual smells or alarms immediately. Do not open equipment or try to recreate a dangerous fault.