A home heating system breaking down during winter is a serious problem in Minnesota—our winters do not play nice! If your furnace, heat pump, or other heater suddenly stops working in the middle of a cold winter day or night, you’ll want the problem fixed as fast as possible. Make a smooth switch this season to ensure your system is ready for winter demands.
The most reliable way to get your heater working again is to call our expert technicians. We offer heating repair in Plymouth, MN and throughout the Twin Cities, and all our techs are NATE-certified. However, you can take several steps before calling us to see if you can get your heater working again.
Prioritize Safety in a Heating Emergency
This is important: please do not attempt to make any repairs to your heating system on your own. We’ll outline troubleshooting steps, but these aren’t repairs. Anything that involves opening up your heater and using tools is off the table. It’s not just because you’ll risk doing the job incorrectly. You’ll put your health and safety, as well as that of your household, at risk. Leave the work to licensed professionals who know how to safely handle these systems. When it’s time for repairs, leave the work to licensed professionals.
How to Troubleshoot a Suddenly Broken Heating System
Now take a deep breath, put on a coat, and let’s walk through basic troubleshooting to see if we can get your heater working again.
1. Check the thermostat.
A basic first step: is the thermostat set accurately? Someone in the household may have accidentally changed the settings so the heater won’t turn on when you expect. If you have a heat pump, is the thermostat set for heating mode? See if any older program has been activated.
2 Check the electrical panel.
Yes, even if you have a gas-powered heating system, you need to check the electrical panel for tripped circuit breakers. All modern heating systems rely on electronic components and control boards to operate. Your heater may have tripped its breaker. Reset any tripped breakers and then try the heater again.
3. Put in a clean air filter.
If you have a forced-air heating system (such as a heat pump or furnace), its air filter may be clogged up. If this filter becomes too dirty, it will block airflow into the system, possibly leading to the unit overheating and tripping the limit switch. Put in a clean filter to help prevent these shutdowns.
4. Examine the room vents and registers.
If the vents and registers from the ventilation system are blocked or closed, it can cause the heating system to shut down. (No, it doesn’t help save energy to close these vents!) Go around the room to see if anything has blocked up the vents.
5 Reset the system.
Some heating systems can be manually reset with a reset button. Before attempting to reset the heater, check with the manual for instructions. In some cases, this reset will get the heater working again.
When to Call a Heating Repair Technician
At this point, you’ve done all you can to get your heater working on your own. Now it’s time to contact our team and let us take over. We’ll find out what’s wrong with your heating system and get your house warm again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What should I do first if my heating system suddenly stops working?
Answer: Start by checking your thermostat settings to ensure it is on heating mode and set correctly. Next, check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker. These simple steps can often resolve the issue before needing professional help.
Question: Can a dirty air filter cause my heater to shut down?
Answer: Yes, a clogged air filter can block airflow and cause your heating system to overheat or trip a safety switch. Replacing the filter every 1–3 months helps keep your system running efficiently and reduces the risk of sudden shutdowns.
Question: Is it safe to repair my heating system myself?
Answer: No, attempting to repair a heating system on your own can be dangerous and may cause more damage. Homeowners can safely perform basic troubleshooting like checking filters or vents, but any actual repairs should be handled by licensed professionals.
Question: When should I call a professional for heating repair?
Answer: If basic troubleshooting steps like resetting the system, checking vents, or changing filters don’t solve the problem, it’s time to call a professional. Technicians have the training and tools to safely diagnose and fix complex heating issues.
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