Homeowner Safety

What to do in an emergency

Gas or rotten egg smell: If you smell gas or rotten eggs, do not troubleshoot or touch a switch. Leave with everyone and all pets, call the gas company and 911 from outside, then call us.
Carbon monoxide alarm: If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, take everyone and all pets outside into fresh air and call 911. Do not return until responders say it is safe.
Smoke or sparks: If you see smoke or sparks, get everyone outside and call 911. Do not open the equipment or try to find the source.
Burning or hot electrical smell: If you smell burning or hot electrical parts, turn the system off at the thermostat. Shut off its breaker only if safe. Leave and call 911 if there is smoke or sparking.
Water touching wiring or an outlet: If water is touching wiring, an outlet, or electrical parts, do not touch the unit or the water. Shut off power only if you can reach the breaker safely, then call for service.

Change thermostat mode, temperature, fan setting, and the batteries in an accessible compartment.
Check and replace an accessible filter of the correct size.
Open registers and clear the return grille.
From outside, with power on, clear leaves and plants from around the outdoor cabinet and keep two feet of clearance. Look and listen only. Never reach through the grille, never remove a panel, never spray or rinse.
Look at the drain pan, a visible drain line, a visible float switch, and visible refrigerant lines, without touching anything.
Turn the system off at the thermostat when ice, a loud mechanical noise, or a burning smell appears.
Reset a breaker once, with dry hands, only if certain which breaker it is. If it trips again, leave it off.

Pull or open the outdoor disconnect, or any whip or terminal.
Remove any panel, cover, grille, or burner door.
Rinse or spray any coil, cabinet, or fin.
Touch capacitors, contactors, boards, relays, transformers, wiring, or thermostat terminals.
Touch refrigerant lines, or measure charge or pressures.
Bypass or wet test a float switch or any safety control.
Flush or vacuum a condensate drain.
Perform any check on a gas appliance.
Reset a breaker more than once.

Keep every equipment panel closed. Do not touch wiring, pull an outdoor disconnect, or handle any internal part.

If you are unsure whether a check is safe, call us at (713) 545-8062.