What to do if…
your heating system stops working and your home is getting cold

What to do now

1. Move to the warmest safe room: choose one room, shut doors, close curtains, block drafts with towels, and keep people off cold floors with shoes, slippers, rugs, cardboard, or blankets.
2. Check for carbon monoxide danger first: if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, anyone has possible carbon monoxide symptoms, or symptoms improve outside, get everyone to fresh air immediately. Call 911 or the fire department from outside and do not go back in until responders say it is safe.
3. Get poisoning guidance after you are away from danger: if you are in fresh air and need advice about possible carbon monoxide exposure, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 instead for severe symptoms or immediate danger.
4. Leave first if there may be gas, fire, or unsafe electrical conditions: if you smell gas, see smoke, see sparking, or there is water around electrical equipment, get everyone out. From outside, call 911 or your utility emergency line.
5. Do only safe, simple checks: if there is no carbon monoxide alarm, gas smell, smoke, sparking, or unsafe electrical condition, check that the thermostat is set to heat and has working power or batteries; check whether a furnace breaker has tripped; and check whether the furnace service switch is on.
6. Call the right repair route: if you own the home and there is no immediate danger, call an HVAC repair service. If you rent, notify your landlord or property manager immediately by phone and in writing, saying: “No heat; indoor temperature dropping quickly; urgent repair needed.”
7. Document the rental problem without delaying safety: take timestamped photos of the thermostat display and a separate thermometer reading if you have one. Keep copies of texts, emails, work orders, and missed repair updates.
8. Watch for cold injury: shivering, exhaustion, unusual sleepiness, confusion, fumbling hands, memory problems, or slurred speech can be warning signs. In babies, watch for very low energy or cold, bright red skin. Move to a reliably warm place and seek medical care if you are worried.
9. Use safe short-term warmth: wear dry layers, socks, and hats; wrap up in blankets; drink something warm if you can swallow safely; and eat something if available. Use an electric space heater only on a flat surface, plugged directly into a wall outlet, at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, and turn it off when leaving the room or sleeping.
10. Reduce burst-pipe risk if it is very cold: open cabinet doors under sinks so warmer air can reach pipes. If pipes are on exterior walls and freezing is likely, letting a cold-water faucet drip may help keep water moving.
11. Make a warm-place plan early: if repair is not imminent and the indoor temperature is still dropping, arrange to stay with friends or family, go to a warming center, or use a hotel or shelter if you can do so safely. Call 211 to ask about local warming centers, shelters, emergency utility help, and energy assistance such as LIHEAP where available.