The Comfort of Home

With the winter season quickly approaching, many families will embark on vacations to see family or to just get away and recharge. When you leave your home, you likely leave your furnace on, so your house does not get too cold while you are away. Unfortunately, a furnace can break down while you are away, leaving you with a chilly house as you return. If this happens to you, consider the following tips.

Leave if You Smell Gas

If your home's furnace operates with natural gas and you can smell it when you get home from your trip, you need to get out of the house immediately and call the fire department. The gas leak is likely a part of the reason why your furnace is not functioning.

Call for Emergency Repair Service

The cold winter weather is an inconvenient time for the furnace to malfunction, especially when you have been away. Although it may come at a premium cost, you need to call an HVAC technician for emergency repair service as soon as possible. A technician will come to your home and check the furnace for you to return your home to a more comfortable temperature.

Plan for Alternative Accommodations

If you do not have emergency furnace repair options in your area or you cannot find anyone to come to your home quickly, you need to think of an alternative place to stay while you wait. Although inconvenient, you will be more comfortable in another place rather than trying to warm up in your cold house with no working furnace. Consider checking into a hotel or staying with family or friends. You may be tempted to use space heaters, but they can be dangerous for overnight use. The best bet is to leave and return when your furnace is repaired.

Prepare for Future Outages

To help you plan for possible furnace outages in the future, you may want to consider a smart thermostat for your home. You can easily monitor your home's temperature from any location with an internet connection. As soon as you see a drastic change in temperature, you will know you have a problem with your HVAC system. Knowing this information ahead of time will prevent any surprises while you are away. You can be ready with your alternative living arrangements and make plans to have a technician come to your home before you even get home.

For more information, reach out to a residential heating service in your area.