1. Check the simple things first
Thermostat. Make sure it's set to Heat, the temperature is set above the room temperature, and the batteries aren't dead. A blank screen usually means dead batteries.
Breaker and switch. Check that the furnace's breaker hasn't tripped and that the power switch near the furnace, which often looks like a light switch, is on.
Filter. A badly clogged filter can make a furnace shut itself off. If it's gray and caked with dust, replace it.
Gas supply. If your stove burners also won't light, the problem may be the gas service. Call your gas company.
2. Stay warm safely while you wait
Close off unused rooms and gather in one room. Wear layers, a hat and warm socks, and use extra blankets. Drink warm fluids and eat regular meals. Your body needs fuel to stay warm.
Use space heaters carefully. Keep them at least three feet from anything that can burn, plug them directly into a wall outlet, and never leave them running while you sleep.
Never use a gas oven, grill, camp stove or generator indoors to heat your home. They produce carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell.
3. Know when to get help
If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, or you smell gas, leave the house right away and call 911 from outside.
If the house is getting very cold and the repair can't happen soon, don't wait it out alone. Call a family member or neighbor, or dial 211 to find a local warming center. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, confusion, slurred speech and drowsiness. These are a medical emergency, so call 911.
4. Get the repair done without the scramble
Finding an available technician on a freezing night is hard, and emergency rates are high. With a home warranty, you make one call to our 24/7 claims line, a licensed technician is dispatched, and you pay a flat service fee instead of the full repair bill.
If you don't have coverage yet, now is the time. Call (833) 667-1589 and a licensed representative will walk you through the options. New enrollments get the first 3 months free.