When your heat or AC quits in extreme Zone 5A weather, run a few quick checks, then call — we offer same-day and emergency service. But safety comes first: if you ever smell propane or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside and call from a safe spot before anything else.
What counts as an HVAC emergency?
Out here, "emergency" usually means no heat when it's heading toward −20°F, no cooling during a dangerous heat wave, or any sign of a safety problem — a propane smell, a carbon monoxide alarm, or a burning odor from the system. Lost heat in deep cold isn't only uncomfortable; it puts your pipes at risk of freezing. When the weather is severe and vulnerable family members are home, treat a failure as urgent and don't wait it out.
What should you check before you call?
A few quick things solve a surprising number of "no heat" and "no cool" calls. Make sure the thermostat is set to heat or cool and a few degrees past the room temperature, and try fresh batteries. Check that your air filter isn't clogged — a dirty filter chokes airflow and can shut a system down, which is why we suggest checking filters monthly out here. Look at your electrical panel for a tripped breaker, and clear snow, ice, or tall grass away from the outdoor unit. If none of that brings it back, it's time to call.
Safety first: propane and carbon monoxide
We have no natural-gas mains here, but propane and combustion still demand respect. Propane has a rotten-egg odor and is heavier than air, so it settles low. If you smell it, don't flip switches — leave the house and call your propane supplier and us from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, get everyone to fresh air immediately and call 911. In deep cold while you wait for help, protect your plumbing: let faucets drip, open the cabinet doors under sinks, and keep interior doors open so what heat you have can move around.
When a heat pump looks broken but isn't
In cold, damp weather an air-source heat pump will periodically run a defrost cycle — you may see steam off the outdoor unit and feel auxiliary backup heat kick in for a few minutes. That's normal, not a breakdown. If you want to understand how these systems behave in our winters, cold-climate heat pumps in Zone 5A explains what to expect.
How we handle emergencies
We offer same-day and emergency service across our rural footprint, and we're licensed, insured, EPA-certified, and family-owned. Our regular hours are Monday through Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 5pm, with Sundays reserved for emergencies. The best defense, though, is staying ahead of trouble — most no-heat calls trace back to skipped upkeep, so regular HVAC maintenance is the cheapest insurance against a midnight failure.
What to do next
If your system is down in hard weather, don't tough it out. Contact us or call 660-947-3354 right away — for true emergencies, calling is fastest — and we'll get to you as soon as we can.