Heating and cooling systems fail on their own schedule, and it is rarely 10 am on a Tuesday. Here is how to handle an HVAC emergency at night, on a weekend or on a holiday.
What counts as an emergency
- No cooling during a heat advisory, especially with infants, elderly or pets in the home
- No heat with freezing temperatures
- A burning or electrical smell from the equipment
- Water leaking through a ceiling from the air handler
- A breaker that trips repeatedly
- Any gas smell or CO alarm: leave the house and call the utility or 911 first
Getting a real 24 hour technician
Many companies advertise 24/7 but route night calls to voicemail. When you call our emergency HVAC line, a person answers, takes your address and gives you an arrival window. Ask any company three questions: Is a technician actually on call tonight? What is the after-hours dispatch fee? Will I get a flat price before work starts?
While you wait: no cooling
Turn the AC off at the thermostat so a frozen coil can thaw and the compressor is protected. Close blinds, run fans, and move to the coolest room. If the coil is iced, set the fan to on.
While you wait: no heat
Close off unused rooms, use a safe electric space heater in one room, and layer up. Never use a gas oven, grill or camp stove for heat indoors.
Prevent the next one
Most emergencies are failures that a tune-up would have caught: weak capacitors, dirty flame sensors, clogged drains. A maintenance plan puts you first in line when everyone else is calling. Emergency AC and heating repair anywhere in California: (855) 459-5498. Find your local 24 hour HVAC page.