Why You Need 24/7 Emergency HVAC Services in Portland, OR

December 6, 2024

In most cases, you’ll have some indication that your furnace is going to stop working soon or that your cooling system will need to be replaced. However, it’s possible that your furnace or air conditioner will stop working without warning, which can cause a number of problems for you, your family, and your home. Let’s take a deeper dive into why it’s so important to have access to 24/7 emergency service.

You Can’t Schedule an Emergency

If you knew when your furnace would stop running, you could schedule service before you experienced negative consequences. Unfortunately, your HVAC system won’t tell you ahead of time when it’s going to stop working properly, and it has no idea what time or what day it is.

Therefore, it’s just as likely to stop working early on a Saturday morning as it is to do so during normal business hours. Knowing that you can call for help at any time means that you won’t be at risk of a frozen pipe or a dangerous health situation.

It’s also worth noting that most hardware stores or other home improvement outlets aren’t open overnight or during holidays. Therefore, even if you knew how to handle the issue yourself, you might still have no choice but to call a professional to fix the problem before it has a chance to get even worse.

Extreme Temperatures Can Be Dangerous

Let’s say that your air conditioning goes down during a heat wave. Even at night, your home could be too hot or humid to live in for more than a few hours, and trying to open windows or run a fan might actually exacerbate the conditions. During the day, a hot and humid environment can increase the risk of heat stroke or other health issues, especially among children and the elderly. Your pets might also struggle to stay cool as temperatures and humidity levels soar.

During the winter, allowing your home to stay too cold for too long can increase the risk of frozen or burst pipes. You might also run into issues trying to use a space heater. The last thing you want to do is start a fire while trying to keep the house warm. Therefore, you need to have someone you can count on for help to ensure that the air in your home is cool and dry during the summer and comfortably warm during the winter.

There Might Be a Gas Leak

A gas leak is one of the most dangerous hazards you can face, and a leak can occur even if there is little or no indication that anything is wrong. Carbon monoxide is odorless, and the first sign of trouble might be the fact that you are dizzy, having trouble standing, or otherwise suffering from exposure.

It’s possible that you’ll smell rotten eggs or something else indicative of a natural gas leak. While that gives you time to call for help and get to safety, it doesn’t solve the problem at hand. You will still need someone who can get to your home, find the source of the leak, and take care of the issue. If a gas leak lingers for too long, it could create conditions ripe for a house fire or even an explosion that could damage a significant portion of your home.

There May Be an Active Fire Hazard

In addition to a possible gas leak, there is also a chance that your HVAC system may constitute an active fire hazard. This might be because parts were not properly lubricated or installed, or perhaps the wiring has an undetected problem. These scenarios and others increase the risk of a fire. If your HVAC system is too large for your home’s electrical system to handle, you may see sparks or smoke coming from the electrical panel or from various components. You might also notice that your furnace or condenser unit is extremely hot to the touch whether it is running or not.

In such a situation, you need someone who can help you even if your heating or cooling systems are still running. It is not safe to try to repair items that are part of the home’s electrical system. The average homeowner lacks the tools and experience to work on these items properly. Electrocution and other injuries are serious possibilities.

Make Sure the Problem Doesn’t Happen Again

Asking for emergency service means that someone will come to your home quickly. However, it doesn’t mean that your technician will simply make a fix and leave. Instead, a technician will take the time to explain what happened and what can be done to ensure that the issue doesn’t arise again in the future.

For example, the furnace may have stopped working because the circuit breaker couldn’t handle its electrical needs. It’s also possible that a part broke because it was covered in debris as a result of not changing the air filter or because of a clogged duct.

Whatever the issue is, you know that it will be fixed properly no matter what that means. If necessary, you can even have a new furnace or air conditioner placed in your home.

Emergency Service May Be Included in a Service Plan

It’s not uncommon for companies to charge an additional fee to provide emergency service. However, if you already have a service plan, it might be possible to have the fee waived or to pay a reduced amount. Ultimately, you’ll get the service that you need in a timely manner without causing a financial hardship.

Paying Extra Now Could Save Money Later

Secondary issues caused by a home that is too hot or too cold can be just as expensive to fix as your HVAC system. For instance, if a pipe bursts because your home is too cold, you’ll need to pay to have the pipe fixed. You may also need to pay for water remediation services as well as pay to repair or replace floors, insulation, or anything else that was damaged by the water coming out of the pipe.

Meanwhile, extreme humidity can cause damage to wood and other materials inside of your residence. Moisture can also be attractive to pests and allow mold and mildew to grow and spread around the house. However, you may be able to minimize these issues or prevent them from occurring by simply calling for help the moment a problem arises with your home’s HVAC system.

If your Portland home is experiencing a serious issue, the team at Climate Control can help. Whether you need a new AC installed, your furnace repaired, or a heat pump problem diagnosed, we can take care of you in a timely manner. Our team can also provide HVAC maintenance, indoor air quality assessments or clean your ducts to help your home function properly. Don’t hesitate to give us a call today to schedule an appointment or request 24/7 emergency repair.