No Heat in Unionville Right Now?
Ten calm minutes now usually beats an hour of panic later.
Most no-heat nights in Unionville start with something simple: an empty tank, a snow-packed vent, a tripped switch. This page sorts real emergencies from problems that can wait, walks you through the first ten minutes, and explains how to keep people and pipes safe until a heating company arrives.
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Emergency, urgent or can wait: how to tell
A gas or propane smell, a carbon monoxide alarm, smoke or soot is an emergency: leave and call 911. No heat in freezing weather is urgent, and more so with older adults, babies or someone ill at home. A noisy furnace that still heats can usually wait for a weekday visit.
| Level | What is happening | Do this first | Who to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Rotten-egg or propane smell; CO alarm sounding; headaches or dizziness that ease outdoors | Get everyone out. Don't flip switches or use the thermostat on the way. | 911 from outside, then your gas utility or propane supplier |
| Emergency | Smoke, flames, a burning electrical smell or soot puffing from registers | Leave the house. On oil, do not press the reset button. | 911 |
| Urgent tonight | No heat, outdoor temperature below freezing, house dropping fast | Run the checks below. Start protecting pipes. | A heating company |
| Urgent tonight | No heat and someone at home is elderly, an infant, or medically fragile | Move them to the warmest room or to family. Don't wait until morning. | A heating company; 911 if anyone is unwell |
| Urgent tonight | Oil or propane tank reads empty | Don't relight anything. Order fuel. | Fuel supplier, then a heating company |
| Soon | Heat works but short cycles, rooms are uneven, or one zone is cold | Change the filter, open registers, note the pattern. | A heating company in regular hours |
| Can wait | Squeal, rattle or a brief dusty smell on first start, heat still steady | Write down when it happens. | Book a regular visit |
When in doubt about a smell or an alarm, treat it as an emergency.
What to do in the first ten minutes with no heat
Work from the outside of the system in. Rule out danger, then check the thermostat, power, fuel, filter and vents, in that order. Each step takes a minute or two, and none of them involve opening the burner compartment.
- Smell and listen. Any gas, propane or heavy oil smell, or an alarm? Stop here and go outside.
- Thermostat. Mode on HEAT, setpoint above room temperature. A blank screen usually means dead batteries or a tripped breaker.
- Power. Find the service switch on or near the furnace. Check the breaker panel for a tripped heating circuit.
- Fuel. Read the oil or propane gauge. On natural gas, check whether the stove burners light.
- Filter. A clogged filter can trip the high limit. Swap it if it's gray and packed.
- Outside vents. After snow, clear the two white PVC pipes on a high-efficiency furnace by hand.
- One restart. Turn the service switch off, wait 30 seconds, then on. On oil, one press of the red reset button, never more.
- Write it down. Note any blinking light pattern, sounds and the indoor temperature before you call.
Do not, even in a hurry
- Don't heat the house with a gas oven, stovetop or grill. They can put carbon monoxide into the home.
- Don't run a generator inside, in the garage or near open windows.
- Don't keep pressing an oil reset button. One press only.
- Don't relight a propane system after the tank ran dry.
- Don't open the burner door or jumper a safety switch to force heat.
- Don't thaw pipes with a torch or any open flame.
If you smell gas or a CO alarm goes off
Leave first, call second. Get every person and pet out without touching light switches, outlets or the thermostat, then call 911 from outside or a neighbor's house. Don't go back in until responders or your utility say it's safe.
The Propane Education & Research Council's safety guide says to get everyone out of the building first and avoid anything that could make a spark. If you can reach the tank safely and the tank itself isn't the leak, it also says the propane supply valve can be closed by turning it clockwise.
A carbon monoxide alarm is different. CO has no smell, so the alarm may be the only warning. Treat a sounding alarm as real, even if everyone feels fine. Headache, nausea or confusion that improve outdoors need medical help.
- Count heads outside. Don't send anyone back for phones or keys.
- Call 911, then PECO for natural gas or your propane supplier for propane.
- After the all-clear, have a heating company find the source before the furnace runs again.
CPSC advises CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. The carbon monoxide safety guide covers alarm placement and Pennsylvania's Act 121 rules.
Oil and propane run-outs: why they're not a quick refill
A run-out is one of the most common no-heat causes outside the gas lines. Filling the tank is only half the fix.
Heating oil ran out
After a delivery, the oil burner usually still won't start. The line has to be bled of air, and the filter or nozzle may be clogged with sludge pulled up from the tank bottom.
Press the reset button once after the delivery. If the burner doesn't run, leave it. Repeated presses can soak the combustion chamber with oil, and that oil can ignite all at once later. Some fuel dealers offer a service call to bleed the line, or a heating company can do it. More on oil burner problems and fixes.
Propane ran out
The system needs a leak check by a qualified technician before the gas is turned back on. The Propane Education & Research Council says homeowners should never turn the gas on at the tank themselves.
When a tank runs dry, appliance valves can be left open and pilots go out. One propane supplier also notes that air and moisture in an empty tank can cause rust that weakens the gas odor. More on propane furnaces.
Ask your supplier about automatic delivery or a tank monitor.
Frozen or snow-blocked PVC vents
If a 90% or higher furnace quits during or after snow, look outside first. Snow or ice over the white PVC intake or exhaust stops the pressure switch from closing, and the furnace locks out. Clearing both pipes by hand often brings the heat back within minutes.
West Chester averages about 28 inches of snow a year, and wind drifts it against side walls on open East Marlborough lots. A pipe can pack solid even when the yard looks shallow.
- Brush snow away from both pipe ends with a gloved hand or a soft broom.
- Break off any ice ring gently. Don't hammer or pour boiling water on the pipe.
- Clear a few feet around the pipes so the next drift doesn't refill them.
- Turn the furnace off for 30 seconds and back on to clear the lockout.
- Check the condensate drain line inside for a frozen section or a full pump.
If the vent blocks every storm, ask a heating company about raising the termination above the expected snow line. The Unionville climate section explains why local winters are hard on side-wall vents.
How to protect your pipes when the heat is off
Keep the indoor temperature at 55°F or higher if you can, drip faucets on outside walls, and open sink cabinets. The Red Cross and State Farm both give the 55°F guidance, and State Farm says pipes in uninsulated spaces are most at risk once it's below 20°F outside.
Do this now
- Let cold water trickle from faucets fed by pipes on exterior walls.
- Open kitchen and bath sink cabinets so room air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners out of children's reach.
- Close garage doors if water lines run through the garage.
- Know where your main water shutoff is before anything bursts.
If a pipe already froze
- A faucet that only trickles is the usual first sign. Leave it open.
- Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or heating pad, starting near the faucet.
- Never use a torch, kerosene or propane heater, or any flame.
- If it bursts, shut the main valve and call a plumber.
- Check other faucets. One frozen pipe often means others.
Why it matters: State Farm reports that a small crack can release more than 250 gallons of water a day, and its average frozen-pipe claim from 2024 through mid-2025 was over $30,000.
Using space heaters safely while the furnace is down
An electric space heater can carry one room through the night if it's used carefully. Keep it at least three feet from bedding, curtains and furniture, plug it straight into a wall outlet, and turn it off before you sleep. Those three rules come from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
CPSC estimates that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, were involved in about 1,700 home fires, 70 deaths and 160 injuries a year from 2017 to 2019.
- Use a heater with tip-over and overheat shutoff, set on a hard, level floor.
- Never use an extension cord or power strip.
- Don't leave a heater running alone near an infant or someone who can't move away from it easily.
- Turn fuel-burning heaters off and let them cool before refueling, and only use types rated for indoor use.
- Run a portable generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away.
A power outage is its own problem, because a furnace with no electricity can't run at all. See power outages and no heat for generator and transfer-switch basics.
Why no heat is more urgent in many Unionville homes
About 24.3% of East Marlborough Township residents are 65 or older, according to Census figures on the homepage. Cold indoor air is harder on older bodies, infants and anyone with heart or lung conditions, so a no-heat call in those homes should be handled the same night.
Older adults living alone
Someone who lives alone may not notice the house cooling until it's very cold. If you're checking on a parent or neighbor, look at the thermostat reading, not just the setting.
Babies and medical needs
Infants lose heat quickly, and some medical equipment needs both power and a stable room temperature. Tell the heating company about either when you call. If anyone seems confused, drowsy or very cold, call 911.
Empty or second homes
A house nobody is in can lose heat for days before anyone knows. A smart thermostat with low-temperature alerts and a neighbor with a key are the simplest safeguards. PECO rebates on qualifying smart thermostats are listed on the rebates section.
What to tell the heating company when you call
Give the facts that decide how urgent the call is and which parts to bring. A clear two-minute description can save a second trip.
- Your fuel: oil, propane, natural gas, heat pump or electric.
- Furnace or boiler, and the brand and rough age if you know them.
- What it does now: silent, clicks, fan only, lights then stops.
- Any blinking light pattern, and whether you pressed an oil reset.
- Indoor temperature and how fast it's dropping.
- Who is home, especially older adults, infants or anyone ill.
- Whether you smelled anything or an alarm sounded earlier.
- Road access: a long lane, gate or unplowed drive.
Nights, weekends and holidays
After-hours visits usually carry a higher rate than a weekday call. Ask about the trip fee and rate before anyone drives out, and ask whether it's safe to wait until morning if the house is holding temperature.
One call gets you connected with local heating companies. The referral is free.
PECO outages, LIHEAP crisis grants and shutoff rules
Power is out
Every modern furnace and boiler needs electricity, including oil and propane systems. Report the outage to PECO, then follow the power outage guide.
Out of fuel and money
Pennsylvania LIHEAP runs November 2, 2026 to April 23, 2027. Crisis grants of $25 up to a combined $1,000 help households with no heat, no fuel, or a shutoff within 15 days. Crisis requests go through the Chester County Assistance Office; regular applications also go through COMPASS.
Shutoff protection
From December 1 to March 31, PUC-regulated utilities generally can't shut off income-eligible customers for nonpayment without PUC approval. Call PECO about payment programs early. Details are at puc.pa.gov and on the homepage rebates section.
Three no-heat nights that are typical around Unionville
These are composite examples of common situations, not specific customer stories.
The Sunday morning drift
A newer home near Route 82 with a 95% propane furnace. After overnight snow and wind, the furnace shows a pressure switch code. The intake pipe on the north wall is packed solid. Brushing it clear and cycling the switch restores heat with no service call.
The tank nobody watched
A stone farmhouse in West Marlborough on oil heat, owner away for a week. A house-sitter finds it at 48°F. The gauge reads empty. After a delivery, the burner still won't run because the line has air and the filter is clogged. A technician bleeds the line and changes the filter.
The alarm at 2 a.m.
A 1980s colonial with an older gas furnace. The basement CO alarm sounds. The family leaves and calls 911, and responders find elevated readings. The next day a technician finds a disconnected flue pipe. The furnace stays off until the vent is repaired and tested.
No-heat and emergency questions from Unionville homeowners
Is no heat considered an emergency?
It depends on the weather and who's home. In freezing weather, or with older adults, infants or someone ill in the house, treat it as urgent and call that day. A gas smell, CO alarm or smoke is always an emergency for 911.
How cold can my house get before pipes freeze?
There's no single number, because it depends on where pipes run and how well they're insulated. The Red Cross recommends keeping the heat no lower than 55°F, and State Farm says pipes in uninsulated areas are most at risk when it's below 20°F outside.
Should I drip my faucets if the furnace is out?
Yes, on faucets fed by pipes along outside walls. Moving water is harder to freeze, and a trickle is enough. Open the sink cabinets too, so room air reaches the pipes.
Can I use my oven to heat the house?
No. A gas oven or stovetop used for space heating can put carbon monoxide into the house, and leaving an oven door open is a burn and fire risk. Use a safe electric space heater instead, or go somewhere warm.
My propane ran out. Can I turn it back on after the delivery?
No. The Propane Education & Research Council says a qualified professional must leak-check the system when the gas is turned back on. Eastern Propane, for example, states it must leak-check a system before turning the gas back on.
The oil tank was filled but the burner won't start. Why?
When an oil tank runs dry, air gets into the fuel line and sludge can clog the filter. Press the reset once. If it doesn't run, the line needs bleeding and possibly a new filter or nozzle, which is a service job.
Are emergency furnace calls more expensive?
Usually. Most companies charge more for nights, weekends and holidays. Ask about the trip fee and hourly rate before the visit, and whether a safe fix can wait until regular hours.
Is it safe to sleep with a space heater on?
CPSC advises against it. Turn the heater off before sleeping, keep it three feet from anything that burns, and plug it directly into a wall outlet. Use extra blankets or a warmer room instead.
Can I get help if I can't afford fuel right now?
Possibly. Pennsylvania LIHEAP crisis grants help households that are out of fuel or about to lose heat, and the 2026/27 season opens November 2, 2026. Contact the Chester County Assistance Office for a crisis request.
Does this site send a technician?
No. UnionvillePAFurnaceRepair is a free referral service that connects you with independent local HVAC companies. Those companies set their own schedules, prices and terms. This site doesn't perform or guarantee work and may be paid for referrals.
Sources
- American Red Cross: frozen pipes.
- State Farm: frozen pipes claims and prevention.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces.
- Propane Education & Research Council: safety guide for propane users.
- Eastern Propane: what happens if you run out of gas.
- East Marlborough age data, West Chester snowfall, LIHEAP 2026/27 dates and PUC winter rules, as summarized on the Unionville furnace guide.
Written by Lawrence. Updated October 25, 2026. Facts on this page were checked against the public sources listed above.
This is general information from a free referral service, not a heating contractor. For gas smells or carbon monoxide alarms, leave the house and call 911.
Related furnace help
Still no heat? Get connected with local heating help.
Say your fuel, what the system is doing, how cold the house is and who is home. That helps the company judge how fast to come.
One call to (724) 241-4851 connects you with independent local HVAC companies that serve Unionville and nearby Chester County communities. It's free, with no obligation.
Have this ready when you call
- Your town or road
- Your fuel: oil, propane, gas or electric
- What the system is doing, and any blinking light code
- Whether you smell gas or oil (if so, leave and call 911 first)
Free referral service. Not a heating contractor. Companies are independent and set their own prices.