A Homeowner’s Guide to a Wintertime Furnace Failure

What You’ll Learn

What should I do if my furnace breaks down in the middle of winter?

If your furnace breaks down in the middle of winter, start by checking your thermostat, circuit breakers, air filter, and fuel supply to rule out quick fixes.

If the heat doesn’t return, use safe supplemental heat and protect your pipes by keeping water dripping while you call for emergency furnace repair.

10 Steps to Take if Your Furnace Breaks Down in Winter:

This blog was updated April 2026.

The snow is falling in clumps outside your window.

You and your family are cuddled up in the warmth of your living room, watching the world turn white outside.

All is right in the world.

Then your furnace clatters and stops.

What now?

This guide walks you through what to do when your heat goes out, how to use supplemental heat safely, when to call for emergency furnace repair, and how to prevent frozen pipes while you wait for help.

Whether you’re in Lancaster, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, or anywhere across southeastern PA, these steps can make a major difference during a winter furnace emergency.

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

A furnace breakdown in Pennsylvania winter weather feels alarming, but in many cases, the cause is simple and often fixable within minutes.

Before calling for emergency furnace repair, take a breath.

2. Check Your Fuel Supply

Propane tanks can drop faster than expected during longer cold snaps.

Lift the dome lid and check your tank gauge:

• 30–80%: You have fuel—move on to the next troubleshooting step.
• 20% or lower: Your tank may be too low to pressurize the system.
• Empty: Your furnace won’t restart until your tank is refilled and a mandatory leak test is performed.

If you’re at or below 20%, call your propane provider immediately. Cold weather increases demand, and deliveries during snow events may take longer.

3. Inspect the Thermostat

Thermostats can lose power or change settings during a deep freeze.

Check the following:

• Is the thermostat turned on?
• Is it set to HEAT?
• Is the temperature set higher than your current room temperature?
• Are the batteries dead? (Replace them even if the display is still lit.)
• If it’s a smart thermostat, has it lost Wi-Fi or rebooted?

Sometimes the fix is as simple as swapping batteries or resetting the device.

4. Verify Power to the Furnace

Modern furnaces depend on electricity—even gas and propane units require electric ignition, sensors, and blowers.

Check the Circuit Breaker

Go to your electrical panel and:

• Look for a tripped breaker labeled Furnace, HVAC, or Air Handler.
• Flip it firmly OFF, then back ON.

During a deep freeze, furnaces run nearly nonstop, which can overload an older circuit.

Check the Emergency Furnace Switch

Most PA homes have a wall switch near the furnace or at the top of the basement stairs. Make sure it hasn’t been bumped off.

5. Inspect the Furnace for Simple, Safe Issues

Check the Pilot Light

If you have an older furnace with a standing pilot, look for a small flame near the burner assembly.

• If it’s out, follow your furnace’s instructions for relighting.
• If it won’t stay lit, it may indicate a thermocouple or gas-supply issue.

Check the Air Filter

A severely clogged filter can cause:

• Overheating
• Safety shutoffs
• Short cycling

If the filter looks dirty or packed with dust, replace it immediately.

Look for Error Codes

Many modern furnaces have a blinking LED visible through a small window on the access panel.

Search your manual (or look up the model number online) to decode the pattern.

NOTE: If you’re uncomfortable performing these checks—or if something smells off (burning odors, gas smells, electrical scents)—do not try to restart the system. Proceed straight to the emergency service.

6. Call for Emergency Furnace Repair

Call immediately if:

• You smell gas or propane
• The furnace repeatedly attempts to start but won’t ignite
• You hear unusual noises (scraping, banging, buzzing)
• Your furnace is leaking water
• The blower runs constantly without producing heat
• You’re out of propane or suspect low pressure
• Temperatures inside the home are dropping rapidly

Every minute counts during a Pennsylvania deep freeze—furnace issues can escalate from uncomfortable to dangerous as pipes begin cooling toward freezing.

7. Keep Cabinet Doors Open & Consolidate Heat

While waiting for emergency furnace repair:

• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate
• Let faucets—especially far-run lines—drip slightly
• Close off unused rooms to conserve heat where you need it most
• Use heavy curtains or blankets to reduce drafts

Gather your family in one or two warmable zones. Concentrating supplemental heat is safer and more efficient than trying to warm the entire home.

8. Use Supplemental Heat

Supplemental heating is helpful but only when used correctly.

Improper use is one of the top causes of winter home fires.

Safe Indoor Options:

• Electric space heaters (with auto-shutoff and proper ventilation)
• Electric fireplaces
• Wood-burning fireplaces
• Pellet stoves

Unsafe Indoor Options:

• Gas or propane grills
• Outdoor heaters
• Kerosene heaters (unless approved for indoor use)
• Generators (extremely dangerous indoors or in garages)

Improper combustion can produce deadly carbon monoxide—especially during tightly sealed winter months.

9. Protect Your Pipes

In a deep freeze, unheated pipes can freeze in as little as three hours. Frozen pipes can burst and cause thousands of dollars in water damage.

Take these immediate steps:

• Keep water moving: Turn on faucets to a slow, steady drip, especially sinks, showers, and basement laundry hookups
• Warm the Most Vulnerable Areas: Focus on unfinished basements, crawl spaces, exterior walls, mobile home underbellies, and slab-on-grade homes with shallow plumbing

Use a safe space heater nearby, but not directly against piping.

10. Plan For & Prevent Future Furnace Emergencies

Once your furnace is repaired, take steps to be better prepared for any future emergency and reduce the chance of another winter breakdown.

Plan for a Backup Heating Strategy

Every Pennsylvania homeowner should have a winter emergency plan that includes:

• Safe electric space heaters
• A working fireplace or stove (if available)
• Pipe insulation
• Spare furnace filters
• Extra blankets
• A battery-powered thermometer to monitor indoor temperatures
• A plan for pets, infants, or elderly family members

Deep freezes can overwhelm local HVAC companies. Having a short-term backup heat strategy protects your home until help arrives.

Schedule Annual Maintenance

A yearly tune-up catches:

• Failing parts
• Dirty ignition sensors
• Cracked heat exchangers
• Clogged filters
• Weak igniters
• Poor airflow issues

Most winter breakdowns happen in systems that haven’t been serviced.

Keep Your Propane Tank Above 20%

Low propane levels can cause:

• Low-pressure furnace shutdowns
• System lockouts
• Mandatory leak tests
• Delayed restart times

Avoiding runouts is one of the easiest ways to prevent a furnace emergency in the first place.

Consider Automatic Delivery

Automatic propane delivery in Pennsylvania ensures consistent fuel levels all winter—without checking gauges or scheduling orders.

Don’t Wait for a Heating Emergency to Strike

A furnace breakdown during a Pennsylvania deep freeze is stressful, but knowing what to do can keep your family safe and your home protected until help arrives.

For reliable fuel supply, automatic delivery options, and dependable emergency furnace support, choose a propane provider committed to keeping Pennsylvania homes warm no matter how low temperatures drop.

Become a Kauffman Gas customer today and stay protected all winter long.

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