⚠️ EMERGENCY QUICK STEPS:
- Flip the furnace switch to OFF (it looks like a light switch)
- OR turn off the furnace breaker in your electrical box
- If you smell gas, leave your house right now and call your gas company and 911
- Call an HVAC tech – don’t turn the system back on
📞 Need Help Now? Call Bolton Heating & Air: (214) 909-7615 – We’re Open 24/7
Your furnace is acting weird. Maybe you smell something burning. Maybe it’s making loud banging sounds. Or maybe smoke is coming out of the vents.
These problems are scary. And they can happen fast, especially when a cold front hits Dallas.
Your job is to keep your family safe. You need to know how to turn off your furnace the right way. It’s easy. And every homeowner should know how.
When You Need to Turn Off Your Furnace
You won’t need to do this very often. But when you do, you’ll be glad you know how. Here’s when to turn off your furnace:
- You smell something burning
- You smell something electrical (like hot wires)
- Smoke is coming from your vents
- The furnace is making loud banging or scraping sounds
- It won’t turn off by itself
- You smell gas (smells like rotten eggs)
- Water is leaking from the furnace
These problems can get worse really fast. Turning off your furnace stops the problem from growing.
How to Turn Off Your Furnace in an Emergency
Your furnace has two shut-off options. Most homes in DFW have both. It doesn’t matter if your furnace is in the attic, a closet, or the garage.
🚨 IMPORTANT: If You Smell Gas
Stop right here if you smell gas. Gas smells like rotten eggs. Don’t touch any switches. Don’t turn on any lights. Leave your house immediately. Call 911 from outside. Then call your gas company. Don’t go back inside until they say it’s safe.
Option 1: The Furnace Switch
Look for a switch on the wall near your furnace. It looks exactly like a regular light switch. You’ll usually see it on a metal box right next to the unit.
Flip it to OFF. Done. That cuts the power.
Option 2: The Breaker
Your furnace has its own breaker. You’ll find it in your breaker box. This box might be in your garage, utility room, hallway, or even outside your house.
Here’s what to do:
- Open the breaker box door
- Look for the breaker that says “Furnace” or “HVAC”
- Flip it to OFF
This shuts off all power to your furnace.
What to Do Next
Your furnace is off. Good job. Now wait for a professional.
Don’t turn it back on. Don’t try to fix it yourself. Don’t think “I’ll just run it one more night.”
Here’s what you should do while you wait:
- Keep everyone away from the furnace
- Open some windows if you smelled something bad
- Use blankets to stay warm
- You can use a space heater, but watch it carefully
- Keep kids and pets away from the furnace area
- Take pictures of anything that looks wrong
Furnaces are complicated. What seems like a small problem can become a big, dangerous one if you mess with it.
Why Every DFW Homeowner Should Know This
Texas weather is crazy. Yesterday it was 75 degrees and sunny. Today it’s 25 degrees and icy.
These fast changes are hard on furnaces. Your system has to work extra hard. This is especially true if your furnace is old or if you rarely use it during our mild winters.
Knowing how to shut off your furnace keeps your family safe. It also stops more damage from happening to your home.
When to Call a Pro
Call a professional if any of these things happened:
- The breaker tripped
- You heard strange noises
- You smelled something weird
- The furnace shut off by itself
- You saw smoke
These are signs of serious problems:
- The system is overheating
- There’s an electrical problem
- The motor is failing
- The burners are dirty or cracked
- The flame sensor isn’t working
- Something’s wrong with the gas supply
- The heat exchanger is cracked (this can leak carbon monoxide)
Don’t try to fix these yourself. You need a licensed technician to check everything before you turn the heat back on.
Questions People Ask
Can I turn it back on myself?
No. If you had to shut it off because of an emergency, get it checked first. The problem is still there. It could get worse or hurt someone.
Should I wait until morning to call?
No. Call right away. Emergency HVAC companies work all night. Don’t wait if you had smoke, gas smells, or electrical problems.
Will turning it off break my furnace?
No. Using the switch or breaker is totally safe. Actually, it protects your furnace by stopping the problem from getting bigger.
What if I can’t find the switch or breaker?
Call for help. If there’s a gas leak or fire, call 911 first. Then call an emergency HVAC company. Your safety matters more than anything else.
Get Emergency Help from Bolton Heating & Air
Your furnace isn’t working right. Turn it off. Then call us at (214) 909-7615.
Bolton Heating & Air has certified technicians ready to help. We serve all of DFW—Forney, Dallas, Rockwall, Mesquite, Rowlett, and everywhere in between. We’re available 24/7, even on weekends and holidays.
We’ll tell you what’s wrong in words you can understand. We’ll give you the price before we start. And we’ll get your heat working safely again.
📞 Call Now: (214) 909-7615 | 24/7 Emergency Furnace Service
We’ve been helping DFW homeowners for years. We’re fast, reliable, and always honest.
Stay safe. Stay warm. Call Bolton Heating & Air when your furnace needs help.