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What To Do When Your Heating System Breaks Down

Posted On: October 24, 2016

man shivering in a winter coatWhen the temperatures are freezing and snow is falling, homeowners appreciate a good heater. It does not take long for the chill and wind to infiltrate a home. So what happens if a heater does stop working? Depending on where a person lives, a heater breakdown can mean hours or even days without heat. It can be a miserable experience. The cold is especially difficult on children, seniors, pets, and those who are ill. Every concerned homeowner should familiarize themselves with their heater and prepare for a possible heating emergency.

Troubleshoot Your Heater

The first priority should be troubleshooting. A heater can stop running for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the problem may be as simple as a glitch in the thermostat or too low a setting for the thermostat. If the problem is the second, the fix is an obvious one. The temperature on the thermostat should be raised. Other common issues that come up include a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse. Homeowners can prepare for the heating season by storing an extra fuse. That easy fix alone may make all the difference. If none of these is the problem and the owners do not know how to fix a heater, they call a professional service for an evaluation and repair.

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Find Alternatives For Keeping Warm

logs burning in a fireIf the heating company cannot get to a home right away, there should be alternatives for keeping warm. If homeowners have a fireplace, they should have some wood stocked for such a situation. Another option is to utilize space heaters. Layering warm clothes using extra blankets at night or even during the day is helpful. Opening curtains and shades during the day to let in the warm sunlight may raise the temperature of the room.

Drink Warm Drinks And Eat Hot Foods

Cold temperatures raise the body’s metabolism in order to stay warm. It is not uncommon to feel hunger along with the chills. Drinking warm beverages such as cocoa, coffee, tea, broth, or milks will raise the body’s temperature. Eating larger amounts of foods that provide plenty of calories can help to keep everyone satisfied.

Do You Smell Gas?

If the heater is not running and the smell of gas hangs in the air, it is necessary to leave the home as quickly as possible. It is a good idea to have some idea of where to go in such a case. Don’t make the mistake of lighting a match or using any form of fire. Because gas leaks can cause explosions and result in a spreading fire, the next step is to call 911 and report the gas leak. After, the displaced homeowner should call the heating company for help and should plan on staying out of the home until the heater has been fixed.

Call Your Heater Repair Company

Most homeowners know little about heaters and will need assistance. If the heating issue cannot be fixed with the simple troubleshooting in the first step, non-professionals should not attempt to repair the problem as it can cause more problems or become dangerous. Heating companies are there to help individuals and families stay as warm as possible. When called, heating pros will find the problem and repair the heater.

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Heater Repair Orangeburg NY

Staying warm is critical when your heater goes out in the middle of the winter. You can prevent a heater breakdown by getting an annual heating system tune-up. However, sometimes heaters fails for one reason or another and you will have to call a reputable HVAC company for heater repair.

SOS XTREME Comfort® offers professional HVAC services. Our technicians will be able to get your heater up and running in no time so that you can resume your normal day to day routine. Being without heat is no fun and can even be dangerous in the cold winters that we experience in the east coast. Be sure to schedule your annual heating system tune-up to prevent a breakdown and so that your heater works at peak performance. Also, we offer high quality heating oil and propane delivery services. Our technicians are certified and we are proud of our high standard of values.  Click here or, give us a call at 845-351-4700.

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We service Ardsley On Hudson NY 10503, Blauvelt NY 10913, Nyack NY 10960, Orangeburg NY 10962, Palisades NY 10964, Piermont NY 10968, Sparkill NY 10976, Tappan NY 10983, West Nyack NY 10994, Harrington Park NJ 07640, Northvale NJ 07647, Norwood NJ 07648, and surrounding areas.

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