What to Do When Your Furnace Stops Working in Freezing Temperatures

New Hampshire winters are bitterly cold, with average January lows in the teens. Homeowners in the area rely on their furnaces to keep their homes warm and protect their families when wind chills drop to near zero.

A furnace breakdown in the middle of a cold spell not only causes stress but also poses risks. You can significantly reduce risk by knowing the steps to take. Brookside Heating & Cooling in Manchester, NH, is your local HVAC provider, and we want you to know how to respond without panicking when your heating system stops working in the middle of winter. We provide emergency heating repair for furnaces that fail in cold weather.

Why Furnaces Are More Prone to Failure in Freezing Temperatures

Manchester winters can strain furnaces, especially older ones. Those over 10 years old or with neglected maintenance are more likely to stop working when freezing temperatures increase their operating load.

What You Should Do Immediately

It’s natural to feel panicky when your furnace suddenly breaks down while the temperature outside is freezing. It’s essential to stay calm and prepared.

Check The Thermostat

Thermostat batteries can fail, even if you recently changed them. C-wire problems can cause rapid battery drain, and extreme cold can lead to failure. A quick check of your thermostat and a battery replacement may be all that’s necessary to restore your furnace’s function.

Check for a Power Outage

You could wake up in the middle of the night to a cold house and not realize the power is out. Even gas furnaces need electricity to run. Check whether a power outage is causing the problem.

Check for Unusual Sounds

Although your home may be cold and your furnace seems silent, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely dead. Subtle sounds can alert you to problems with its function.

Listen carefully for sounds of humming, buzzing, or grinding. You may notice the furnace attempts to turn on but doesn’t. Sometimes you hear a clicking sound, but the furnace never engages. You may also hear the blower motor, but the air coming from the vents is cold.

Safe DIY Troubleshooting Steps

Furnaces are complex mechanical devices with many parts that can fail. Although you should take precautions, you can still safely troubleshoot your furnace.

Check the Furnace Switches

Most modern furnaces have two switches: the limit switch and the pressure switch. Both are safety switches that prevent dangerous furnace conditions. These switches can fail due to restricted airflow, blocked venting, and age and wear.

Before inspecting these switches, ensure the power to your furnace is off. If you see tripped switches, check for a cracked hose leading to the pressure switch or dust buildup on the blower. Even a dirty air filter can cause a problem. If the switches are not working correctly, our professionals can replace them.

Check the Circuit Breaker

Furnaces can trip circuit breakers for several reasons, including electrical faults. You could have a worn blower motor, bad wiring, or a failing capacitor. If your furnace breaker trips, reset it and see if the furnace responds. If it powers on and immediately trips again, you need a professional inspection to identify the issue.

Inspect the Air Filter

Furnaces need clean air filters to function properly. Clogged filters reduce airflow, making the heat exchanger overheat. This can cause the high limit switch to trip, shutting down the furnace.

Check your furnace filters regularly and replace them as needed. Regular preventive maintenance is also important for preventing safety issues and shutdowns. A furnace that constantly runs with a dirty filter will not last long and will eventually break down.

Check the Vents and Registers

You should never shut off vents or block registers. Even when rooms are not in use, the vents should remain open. Closed vents place excessive strain on furnaces and can cause them to fail due to wear and tear.

Check the Exterior Intake & Exhaust Pipes

Most modern furnaces have PVC pipes that run along the bottom of the wall to admit fresh air and exhaust gases. With New Hampshire averaging 90 inches of snow annually, these pipes can become clogged.

A clogged exterior furnace pipe poses a serious threat, potentially leading to carbon monoxide buildup in your home. Regularly inspect your exterior pipes and clear them of snow and ice during winter.

Reset the Furnace

You can try resetting your furnace. Reset buttons are typically red or yellow and are located near the motor or on the control panel. The reset button can trip when your furnace overheats. You can restore power to your furnace by reactivating the button.

A note of warning: do not repeatedly press this button. If your furnace keeps shutting off, there is a safety issue. Our professionals can troubleshoot your furnace, identify the issue, and repair it to restore safe operation.

Avoid Unsafe Troubleshooting

There are some things you should never do because they can cause serious injuries.

You should never attempt to disassemble your furnace to diagnose the issue. Accessing the internal components can cause the risk of electrocution or fire.

It can also void your manufacturer’s warranty. Many internal furnace components are highly sensitive and can become damaged with improper handling.

Do Not Attempt to Fix the Ignition

If your furnace has an ignition problem, attempting DIY repairs can pose serious risks. It could lead to gas leaks, fires, and carbon monoxide leaks. Our expert technicians are highly trained to diagnose and repair furnace ignition issues. The risks are too great to take matters into your own hands.

When to Call an HVAC Company

If you cannot resolve the issue through simple, safe troubleshooting, it’s best to rely on professionals. If you notice a rotten egg odor indicating a natural gas leak, vacate your home immediately and call the appropriate authorities. Signs you need professional furnace repair include:

• Blowing cold air
• No power to the unit
• Rotten egg odors near your furnace
• Frozen intake and exhaust pipes
• Error codes
• Burning odors
• Ignition problems

On a cold night, indoor temperatures can drop rapidly, especially with inadequate insulation or drafts. Falling temperatures pose dangers to your family and plumbing system.

Pipes can freeze, especially in exposed areas such as attics and basements. Calling for professional emergency HVAC services can restore warmth to your home and prevent costly damage.

Book 24/7 Furnace Repair in Manchester

Brookside Heating & Cooling has been proudly serving our customers since 1988. We help Manchester families protect their comfort year-round. Our team provides installation, maintenance, and repairs for all HVAC systems, including furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, and air conditioners.

Contact our experts at Brookside Heating & Cooling to book 24/7 emergency furnace repair in Manchester. We’re only a phone call away!