Heating througha Texas winter
Winter here is shorter than in the north, and sharper than people remember between cold snaps. This guide covers the furnace side of getting through it.
What the record shows
Sources: National Weather Service normals and February 2021 summary.
| Nights at or below 32 degrees, per year (1991 to 2020 average) | 29.2 |
|---|---|
| December, January, February (average nights at or below 32) | 8.1, 10.6 and 6.2 |
| Coldest reading, February 16, 2021 | Minus 2 degrees |
| Consecutive hours at or below freezing, February 13 to 19, 2021 | 139 |
That 139-hour stretch is the reason winter preparation gets its own guide here. The cold lasted long enough to test heating equipment across the whole area.
A checklist for the first cold week
Replace the filter
A blocked filter makes a furnace overheat and shut off. Replace it and write the date on the frame.
Test the alarms
Carbon monoxide alarms near every sleeping area, with fresh batteries. The CDC says to replace the alarm itself after 5 years or as the maker directs.
Clear the vents
Furniture, rugs and boxes on supply vents and returns choke airflow.
Run it once on a mild day
A short run shows whether the burners light and the blower starts, well before a freeze.
Know where the gas shutoff is
Most houses have a shutoff at the meter and another at the furnace. Know where both are.
Book the cleaning before the cold
Heating checks are easier to schedule before the first freeze than during it.
Carbon monoxide and gas
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home and call 911. Do not wait to see whether it stops.
If you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667 from a safe distance. Do not use a phone inside the house, light anything or look for the leak.
If the heat fails in a freeze
Check the thermostat, the furnace's power switch and the filter. Do not open sealed panels or relight a gas burner you are unsure about.
A freeze can also affect the condensate line on a high-efficiency furnace. A contractor will know to look at it. Call early in the day when you can, since freezes bring many calls at once.
Call and get a contractor on the line
The number connects you with an independent HVAC contractor that serves your ZIP code. Early in the day usually leaves more room on a contractor's schedule.