You’re curled up on the couch when you notice your toes start to feel a little frigid. Then your nose gets cold. As you get colder and colder, you realize your heat has completely stopped working.

Whether your central heat has a furnace or heat pump, there are a few steps you can take before reaching out to McCoy’s Heating and Air for a technician.

For both

●      Check your thermostat – Make sure the thermostat is set to “heat” instead of “auto.” If you have a Wi-Fi thermostat, make sure the programs are up-to-date.

●      Watch the electrical panel – If you’ve had a recent power surge, or if a breaker has been tripped, the thermostat may shut off. Restore power, but be sure to call your technician if it continues to shut off.

For furnaces

●      Change your filter – This is the most common cause of furnace problems. If your furnace’s filter is clogged, it can cause the furnace itself to stop working. Your technician will check for this during their regularly scheduled visits, but the furnace filter should be changed every one to three months.

●      Check your pilot light – If you use gas or propane, there is a small flame that is required to burn fuel to heat your home. If this light goes out, confirm gas is flowing through the valve before relighting. If you cannot smell any gas, turn the gas valve off, wait five minutes, then turn it back on. It is possible the igniter needs to be replaced by a McCoy’s technician.

For heat pumps

●      Double check your vents – If your room constantly feels drafty, try opening or redirecting the room’s vent. Sometimes redirecting the airflow can heat the room.

●      Listen for noises – Hearing rattling or squeaking from the heat pump? Notice the heat rapidly cutting off and on? While you may be able to tighten a loose part or add insulation to reduce noise, these are signs of bigger technical issues. Call McCoy’s as soon as possible so a certified technician can assist you.

If the above suggestions don’t help, it’s time for a professional. Until a McCoy’s technician has the opportunity to fix your heating unit, the best ways to keep you and your family warm are to bundle up, light candles, close doors to unused rooms, and try to drink warm liquids. Rest assured these are temporary, and that a technician will get you back to maximum comfort as quickly as possible.