When your furnace breaks down in the middle of the night, you could have an emergency on your hands if the temperature outdoors is freezing cold. If you can't stay with friends or go to a hotel, then you need emergency help. Fortunately, you can call a 24-hour emergency HVAC service any time of the day or night. Here are some tips for dealing with furnace trouble when the temperature is dangerously cold outside and the repairs your furnace might need.

Take Action Right Away

If your house is getting colder because your furnace won't run or because the furnace blows cool air, take action right away and don't wait for the house to freeze. If it gets too cold, your plumbing pipes might freeze, and then you'll have a plumbing emergency too.

Stay calm and check the simple things first. Make sure the breaker isn't tripped and that the filter isn't clogged up. Verify the power switch wasn't turned off accidentally. Reset your furnace if you know how. Also, check the thermostat to make sure it is on the correct settings.

If none of these things are the reason your furnace is malfunctioning, call an HVAC repair company and let them know you have an emergency and need help as soon as possible.

Make Plans While You Wait

While you wait on the HVAC repairperson to arrive, it's a good idea to make plans in case your furnace can't be repaired right away. See if you can stay with friends or family if something is seriously wrong with your furnace and you can't get it repaired the same day. Don't forget to make arrangements for your pets too, and you may also want to open the faucets to let water drip so you can avoid a burst frozen pipe.

It's possible your furnace will be repaired in a matter of hours, but if not, you'll feel better knowing that you, your family, and your pets will stay warm if your furnace is out all night.

Have Emergency Repairs Done

There are a few things that cause a furnace to malfunction. The HVAC repair person might tell what's wrong by how the furnace acts. The error codes are also helpful for determining what is wrong with the furnace. If the furnace is making heat but not blowing air, the problem might be with the blower or motor that runs the blower. Fixing this problem is a matter of replacing the worn-out parts.

If the furnace fan is blowing, but the air isn't hot, the problem might be with the combustion system. Sometimes dirty burners or a dirty ignition can keep your furnace from working correctly. If there's a problem with the combustion area, the furnace sometimes shuts itself down for safety reasons. The repair technician will troubleshoot the furnace to see why it shut down and then make repairs so the furnace turns on and runs like it should.