Emergency HVAC Repair FAQ

No heat when outdoor temperatures are near or below freezing, any gas smell, a carbon monoxide alarm, sparking or burning smells, or water leaking near electrical parts. Elderly occupants, infants or anyone with a health condition also make a no-heat call urgent.

Often, yes. Many providers charge after-hours, weekend or holiday rates. The provider should confirm rates before dispatching a technician, and you can choose to wait for regular hours.

It depends on your location, the weather and demand. In a citywide cold snap, every provider is busy. The provider gives you an arrival estimate when you're connected.

Close doors to unused rooms, close curtains, gather everyone in one room, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls, and let faucets drip if pipes are at risk. Never use a gas oven or grill to heat the home.

Electric space heaters can be used carefully: plug directly into the wall, keep 3 feet of clearance, and never leave one running unattended or while sleeping. Never use fuel-burning heaters or generators indoors.

Call 911 first, from outside the home. After the fire department or gas utility clears the home, an HVAC provider can find and fix the source. See CO and gas emergencies.

Pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces and garages can freeze when the house is still above freezing inside, especially during wind. Many plumbers advise keeping the heat at 55°F or higher, and acting fast once it drops below that.

The provider network covers all 50 states and DC, with on-call coverage that varies by area. Rural areas may have longer waits during storms. See the coverage map.

An independent licensed HVAC provider. NightFrost is a 24/7 referral line and does not perform repairs. See how it works.

Sometimes. If a part isn't available at night, the technician may restore partial heat or make the system safe, then return with the part.