Having your home heating system break down on a cold night is unpleasant to say the least. Fortunately, the Victorville, CA, area doesn’t experience many sub-freezing days yearly. So, if your heating system fails, it shouldn’t pose a risk to your health. That doesn’t mean you won’t need a way to stay warm while you wait for repairs. Here are some useful tips for staying warm when your heater breaks to prepare you for that situation.
Schedule an Immediate Repair Appointment
Before looking for ways to stay warm, call Aace's Heating, Air Conditioning & Swamp Coolers to arrange a heating repair appointment. We offer flexible scheduling and can restore your heat quickly. Our NATE-certified technicians travel in fully stocked trucks, too. That makes them capable of solving many common heating system problems on the first visit. Problems like dirty flame sensors or failed ignition systems are frequent culprits in system breakdowns. The good news is that they’re not hard to fix. Our technicians can often make it so that you don’t have to face a cold night after your heating system fails. And if your heating system isn’t worth repairing, we can offer you an affordable replacement. Then, you can rest assured you’ll have reliable heat for years to come.
Use Your Fireplace if You Have One
It can be an excellent backup heat source if your home has a wood-burning or gas fireplace. Most gas fireplaces feature vents to release heat into the room. However, most wood-burning fireplaces do not and serve more of a decorative purpose. There are some ways to improve their heating performance, however. One is to purchase a fireback. Firebacks are stainless steel or cast-iron fireplace inserts that reflect heat into your room. Also, they function like a radiator once your fire goes out. They’ll keep sending heat into your room for hours afterward. You should also research proper wood stacking for optimal combustion. Increasing airflow through your fireplace will help it burn hotter, warming your room faster.
Choose a Room To Remain In
Choosing the right room to stay in is essential if your home doesn’t have a fireplace. Then, you can focus your efforts on staying warm in that room. Your best bet is a room as close to the middle of your home as possible, preferably without windows. Those are significant sources of heat loss; windowless rooms will retain the remaining heat for longer. Also, the smaller the room, the better. Your body generates roughly 330 BTUs of heat every hour. That’s not enough to warm up a large room, but it will help maintain the temperature of a small room. If you don’t have any rooms without windows, close your blinds and curtains in the room you choose. Also, keep the door closed for as much of the time as possible.
Layer Your Clothing
You should also wear multiple layers of clothing to stay warm while your heater remains out of service. Begin with a thin base layer, followed by a thicker top layer. That will help trap heat that would otherwise escape your body. Wear a jacket, scarf, and gloves if it’s especially cold. While it may not be as comfortable as you’d like, it will keep you warm.
Do Some Cooking
You should never use an oven or cooktop to try to heat your home. If your appliances are gas-powered, they can raise pollutant levels in your home to dangerous levels over many hours. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do some cooking to help keep your home warm. For example, you can make some fresh bread or bake a cake. There are countless recipes you can bake using nothing but pantry staples. When done baking, turn off your oven and leave its door ajar. That will let the remaining heat escape into your home and help keep it warm. Eating the still-warm baked goods you’ve made will help, too.
Do Your Laundry
Although you may not realize it, running your washer and dryer releases significant heat. So, catching up on your laundry is an excellent idea while your heating system isn’t working. The tactic is especially effective if you have your laundry room in a basement. Heat rises, so it will distribute itself through your home as your machines run.
Fill Some Hot Water Bottles
Typically, you’d only use hot water bottles for comfort when sick. You can also use them to keep warm if your heating system breaks down. If you’re like most people, you probably have a water heater that’s not dependent on your heating system. So, you should have ample hot water to fill water bottles with. Then, keep them close by and replenish their hot water as necessary.
Use Heating Pads or Heated Blankets
If you have heating pads or heated blankets in your home, they can also help keep you warm. If you’re using heating pads, keep them on a low setting so that you don’t risk any burns from long-term use. Heated blankets, by contrast, shouldn’t get hot enough to be risky. If you follow the directions for your heated blankets, they should be safe to use, even overnight.
Take a Hot Shower
A hot shower can also help you keep warm when your heating system breaks down. If you keep your bathroom door closed while you do it, it will warm up the room at the same time. Just bring towels and a change of clothes into the bathroom before you begin. Then, you can dry off and dress without leaving the room, taking the heat with you.
Use Space Heaters
Assuming your home has electricity, you can use a space heater to keep the room you’re staying in warm. The best type of space heater to use is an oil-filled radiant heater. They’re among the safest to operate because they have no exposed heating elements that can cause fires. They also feature robust tip-over sensors that turn them off if they get knocked over. They’re also a type of space heater you can safely use overnight. Just position yours far away from curtains or anything else combustible. They’ll also continue to provide heat well after you turn them off, which may help you conserve electricity.
Quick Heating System Repair Specialists
For over 17 years, Aace's Heating, Air Conditioning & Swamp Coolers has offered quick, affordable heating services like maintenance and repair in Victorville, CA. We also provide complete HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services. In addition, we offer swamp coolers, indoor air quality services, and whole-house fans. We’re a Hero Registered contractor, and we’re screened and approved by HomeAdvisor. We also frequently offer discounts to first-time customers. And if you need financing to afford an HVAC purchase, we’ll provide it on approved credit. Those are major reasons why we’re so popular with our customers. We’re also Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating. So, when you need heating repair in Victorville or the surrounding areas, contact Aace's Heating, Air Conditioning & Swamp Coolers immediately.
