Emergency Tips

 Picture
Our goal is to help! While we really wish that we could be instantly available to help you out of your bind, that simply isn't possible in many cases. Hopefully the practical tips on this page will assist you in an emergency situation until we can arrive to evaluate and assist.  
HVAC Tips  
Problem What to try
My Air Conditioning isn't cooling Check your thermostat and ensure it is set to cool, not heat. Check for a tripped breaker or a blown fuse. Use a garden hose to spray off the outdoor condensing unit. Sometimes things accumulate that block the air flow. Check your air filter to ensure it isn't clogged. If your coolant is low, systems often freeze up. You may want to try turning on the heat for a short while in order to help thaw frozen components.
My Furnace isn't heating Check to see if a breaker has been tripped or a fuse has blown. If it's a gas unit, do you have a gas stove? Check the stove to see if the burners are working. If not, you may need the gas company to investigate an issue with their supply. Note that you may wish to consider using your oven to provide temporary heat.
Furnace or A/C doesn't appear to come on Check your thermostat. It may be programmable and you need to replace the batteries.
Plumbing Tips  
Problem What to try
My Water Isn't Hot If it's an electric unit, check for a tripped breaker or a blown fuse. If it's a gas unit, is the pilot light lit? It's possible that you just need to re-light the pilot light.
My Sink is slow to drain or isn't draining at all Try boiling water and pouring it down the sink. This may help unclog slow drains. You may also try a plunger.
Something is leaking under the sink Often this is a loose pipe. You should grab a bucket or possibly a large pan and place beneath the leak to catch any water and prevent flooding of the area.
Garbage Disposal doesn't spin. It just hums when I turn on the switch. Sometimes food or other objects can get jammed. The unit may have a wrench attached to the side of it or somewhere near it in the cabinet. You may be able to un-jam it by using the wrench. Another option is to use a broom handle to try and work it loose.
Electrical Tips  
Problem What to try
An outlet appears to be dead and isn't working Outlets normally have two connection spots. Try moving the plug to the other connection spot. You may also discover that the outlet is wired to a switch that controls power. If so, the switch may need to be turned on.