What Counts as a Heating Emergency
A total loss of heat during freezing outdoor temperatures is the most common emergency call, but it’s not the only one. A carbon monoxide alarm sounding, a burning smell from a furnace or boiler, or the smell of gas near a heating appliance all need immediate attention, and each calls for a slightly different first response.
What to Do Right Now If You Smell Gas or Lose Heat
If you smell gas near your furnace or boiler, leave the house immediately, don’t operate light switches or a phone inside, and call the gas company or 911 from outside before calling us. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, evacuate and call 911 first. For a straightforward no-heat situation without a gas smell or CO alarm, check the thermostat batteries and settings, confirm the furnace switch and circuit breaker are on, and check whether the air filter is severely clogged before calling for emergency service.
How Fast We Respond to a Heating Emergency
We maintain 24/7 live answering, so a call at any hour reaches a real person, not a voicemail queue. Trucks are fully stocked with common furnace, boiler, and heat pump parts, which means most emergency heating calls get resolved during the first visit instead of leaving a homeowner waiting through a second cold night for a part to arrive.
Protecting Your Home From Frozen Pipes During a Heating Outage
A prolonged heating outage during a Connecticut cold snap creates a second risk beyond an uncomfortable house: pipes running through exterior walls or unheated spaces can start freezing once indoor temperatures drop far enough, and a frozen pipe that bursts turns a heating emergency into a plumbing emergency too. Opening cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and letting faucets drip slightly can buy time while waiting for a technician, especially overnight during an extended outage.
