If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, leave the house and call 911 first. For a plain no-heat or no-cooling problem, a few safe checks often find the cause. If they do not, call us and describe what the system is doing.
What do I do if I smell gas?
Leave the house right away and call 911 from outside, then call your gas company's emergency line. That is what DTE Energy and Consumers Energy both tell customers to do.
Do not use switches, phones or appliances inside, do not light anything, and do not go back in until first responders or the utility say it is safe. After that, call us to inspect the furnace and gas connections before the furnace runs again.
My carbon monoxide alarm went off. What do I do?
Get everyone out of the house and call 911 from outside. Do not stop to open windows or look for the cause. Carbon monoxide has no smell, and an alarm is a warning to leave.
Do not go back in until the fire department or your gas utility says it is safe. Then have the furnace, water heater and venting inspected before you use them. A blocked chimney, a disconnected vent or a cracked heat exchanger are common causes in older Detroit homes.
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
A furnace blowing cold air usually means the burners shut off while the fan kept running. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and the fan to auto, not on. Then check the filter. A clogged filter lets the furnace overheat, and a safety switch shuts the burners off.
On a high-efficiency furnace, a frozen or blocked condensate drain or vent pipe also stops the burners. If the filter and settings are fine, call us. The igniter, flame sensor or a pressure switch may have failed.
My furnace won't turn on. What do I check first?
- Thermostat: set to heat, a few degrees above room temperature, with fresh batteries.
- Furnace switch: the light-type switch near the furnace is on.
- Breaker: the furnace breaker has not tripped. Reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call.
- Furnace door: the front panel is fully closed, since a safety switch keeps it off if not.
- Filter: not clogged.
- Vent pipes: on a high-efficiency furnace, the white pipes outside are not blocked by snow.
If the furnace still won't turn on, or the thermostat has no power at all, call us. A failed transformer, control board or door switch is a common cause.
Why is my furnace running but the house is still cold?
If the furnace runs but the house is still cold, the furnace may be short of air, short of gas, or too small for the cold snap. A dirty filter, closed registers, leaky ducts in a cold basement or attic, or a dirty flame sensor that lets the burners drop out can all cause it.
In very cold weather, a furnace that runs almost nonstop is normal. One that runs nonstop and still loses ground needs a visit.
Why does my furnace keep turning on and off?
A furnace that keeps turning on and off every few minutes is short-cycling. The usual causes are a clogged filter, a dirty flame sensor, an oversized furnace, a thermostat in a bad spot, or a blocked flue or condensate line that trips a safety switch.
Short-cycling wastes gas and wears out parts. Change the filter first. If it keeps happening, have it checked.
My furnace keeps clicking but won't light, or the pilot light keeps going out
Clicking without lighting usually means the igniter or the gas supply is the problem. On older furnaces with a standing pilot, a pilot that keeps going out usually points to a weak thermocouple, a dirty pilot or a draft. Do not keep trying to relight it many times in a row. Turn it off and call us.
No heat in freezing weather: what do I do until help comes?
Until help comes, keep the house as warm as you safely can and protect the pipes. Close curtains, close doors to unused rooms, and keep the family in one room. Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls and let a faucet drip.
Use only space heaters made for indoor use, keep them clear of anything that burns, and plug them straight into the wall. Never heat the house with an oven, a grill or a generator indoors. Then call us and tell us what the furnace is doing.
My furnace smells like burning. Is that dangerous?
A light burning-dust smell for a few minutes the first time the heat runs in fall is normal. A smell that lasts, or smells like burning plastic or electrical wiring, is not. Turn the furnace off at the thermostat and the switch, and call us.
If you see smoke, flames or scorch marks, leave the house and call 911. An overheating furnace can damage wiring and nearby items, which is why its safety switches should never be bypassed.
Why is my AC running but not cooling the house?
An AC that runs but is not cooling usually has a dirty filter, a dirty outdoor coil, a failed outdoor fan or capacitor, or low refrigerant from a leak. Check the filter and make sure the outdoor unit is running and its fan is spinning.
If ice is on the copper lines, turn the cooling off and run the fan only to thaw it, then call us. Running a frozen AC can ruin the compressor.
Why is my AC blowing warm air all of a sudden?
Warm air all of a sudden usually means the outdoor unit stopped while the indoor fan kept going. A tripped breaker, a failed capacitor or contactor, or a stopped condenser fan are the usual causes. Check the breaker and the outdoor disconnect switch. If the outdoor unit hums but the fan does not spin, turn it off and call us.
Why is my AC unit frozen with ice?
Ice on an AC usually means too little airflow or too little refrigerant. A dirty filter, closed registers, a weak blower or a refrigerant leak can all freeze the coil. Turn the cooling off and let it thaw with the fan on. If ice comes back after a clean filter, it needs a technician.
Water is leaking from my furnace or AC. What now?
Water around the furnace in summer usually comes from the AC's condensate drain, which runs from the coil on top of the furnace. If the drain or its small pump clogs, water spills onto the floor. Turn the system off, wipe up the water, and call us before it reaches the furnace controls.
In winter, a high-efficiency furnace also makes water. A cracked drain hose, a failed condensate pump or a frozen drain line is the usual cause. Water from a boiler or its pipes is a different problem and needs a call.
Why is my furnace making a loud noise?
The type of noise points to the cause. A loud bang when the burners light usually means delayed ignition from dirty burners, which needs service soon. Squealing points to a blower motor or belt. Rattling can be a loose panel or a failing inducer. Humming with no start can be a capacitor or motor.
If a bang is followed by a gas smell, leave the house and call 911 and the gas company.
Do you offer emergency service?
For an emergency service call, phone (313) 488-2188 and describe what the system is doing: no heat, no cooling, a leak or a breaker that keeps tripping. Ask about the rate and the timing before the visit is booked. Night, weekend and holiday rates are typically higher. HomeGuide lists emergency labor at $140 to $250 an hour nationally, against $75 to $150 at standard rates.