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The heat quit on a cold Spokane night: what to do first
It is late, the house is getting cold and the furnace will not come back on. The next fifteen minutes matter more than the next morning. Here is the order we would work through it.
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NBy Nell Bradshaw, HVAC Guides Editor · Updated September 2026
Quick answerWhen the heat quits on a cold Spokane night, first check for a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm and leave if either is present. Then check the thermostat, the breaker and furnace switch, the filter and the outdoor vent pipes. If the heat is still off, call for after-hours service and protect pipes while you wait.
Safety first
If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm is sounding, stop. Get everyone out of the house, then call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Do not flip switches or try to restart the furnace. Once the house is declared safe, the heating repair can start.
Four checks in five minutes
Most no-heat nights we are called to turn out to have a simple cause. Work through these in order:
- Thermostat: set to Heat, setpoint above room temperature, fresh batteries if it has them.
- Power: the furnace switch (it looks like a light switch near the unit) is on, and the breaker has not tripped. Reset a tripped breaker once only.
- Filter: if it is visibly clogged, replace it.
- Vent pipes: on high-efficiency furnaces, clear snow and ice from both plastic pipes outside.
If the furnace still will not run
Look through the window in the furnace door for a blinking light and count the blinks. Write the pattern down before you touch anything else. Then call. A person should answer at any hour, and the technician will use that code to decide what parts to bring. See why a furnace blows cold air for the common faults behind those codes.
No heat right now? a person answers.
Call (509) 404-0016Keeping people warm while you wait
Gather everyone into one or two rooms, close the doors and hang blankets over drafty windows. Space heaters help if you use them carefully: plug directly into the wall, keep three feet of clearance, and never leave them running unattended or while sleeping. Never use an oven, grill or camp heater indoors for heat.
Infants, older adults and anyone with a medical condition should be the priority. Tell the dispatcher if they are in the house, because it moves the call up the list.
Protecting your pipes
Spokane temperatures are rarely below 11 degrees but they do get there, and a house without heat cools quickly. Pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces and garages freeze first. Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, let a thin stream of water run from the faucets farthest from where the water enters the house, and keep the garage door closed.
If you have a heat pump or a boiler
Heat pump homes have an extra option. If the outdoor unit is iced solid or making grinding noises, switch the thermostat to Emergency Heat, which runs the backup heat only and protects the heat pump until it can be repaired. It costs more to run, so treat it as a bridge until the visit.
For boilers, check the pressure gauge on the front of the boiler. Most hot water systems sit around 12 to 15 psi when cold. A gauge near zero points to a leak or a failed fill valve, and a boiler repair visit is the next step. Do not add water to the system yourself unless you know which valve does it.
What the after-hours visit looks like
The technician reads the fault code, watches the start sequence and tests the part that is failing. Most after-hours fixes are ignitors, flame sensors, pressure switches and blower parts carried on the truck. After-hours work costs more than a daytime visit, and you should be told the rate before anyone is dispatched. Our emergency heating repair line is answered around the clock.
If the furnace is old and the failure is major, you will not be forced into a midnight replacement decision. A safe temporary plan for the night and a daytime quote is the right way to handle it.
More Spokane heating and cooling guides
No-heat night questions
Should I call at 2 a.m. or wait until morning?
Call if the house is dropping fast, someone vulnerable is home, or it is very cold outside. Otherwise a morning visit costs less.
Can I restart the furnace by turning it off and on?
Once is fine. If it locks out again, leave it off and call.
Is a space heater safe overnight?
Only if it has tip-over and overheat protection, sits on a hard floor with clearance, and someone is awake. Do not sleep with one running near bedding.
How fast do pipes freeze without heat?
It depends on the outside temperature and where the pipes run. In a cold snap, exterior walls and crawlspaces can freeze within hours.
Will after-hours repair cost more?
Yes. Ask for the rate on the phone before the technician is dispatched.
Heat out tonight? call now.
Emergency heating repair in Spokane, WA, answered 24/7.
