There are few things more uncomfortable than being caught without heating during a cold winter. Therefore, it's crucial that you know how to troubleshoot your heater. To help you out, here's a rundown on how to deal with common heater problems:

Some Rooms Aren't Getting Heat

In this case, the problem likely lies with your ventilation rather than your heater. To accurately diagnose the problem, you will need to establish which rooms are receiving heat and which are not. Close all your doors and windows and let the heater run for a few hours. Then, check the temperature in each room. If a room isn't warm, then you should examine the vent in that room. You'll need a flashlight and a screwdriver in order to open the vent and see inside. If you can see a blockage, then it's probably close enough that you can easily remove. However, if the blockage isn't immediately visible, then it might be too deep for you to deal with. In this case, you might want to hire a professional.

No Rooms Are Getting Heat

Either you have a problem with your central heater or there is a simpler problem with the controls for your heater.

First, you should check the thermostat to make sure that the settings are correct. If you recently had a power outage, then some settings might have been reset, which can make your heater seem like it doesn't work. If your thermostat seems to be working, then you should check the circuit breaker for the heater. If it's been tripped, then you can easily reset it to fix your problems.

If you are still having problems, then your problem might be much more serious. You should consult an HVAC contractor to determine the exact nature of your heating problem and how to rectify it.

Strange Smells When The Heater Is On

If there is a strange smell in your house when you turn the heater on, then you might have a dead animal in your ventilation. When your heater is on, hot air is propelled through the vents, which will spread the odor throughout your house. On top of that, the increased temperature will accelerate decomposition, which will end up making the smell worse and the corpse much harder to clean up.

If there is a dead animal in your vents, then you will either want to hire a professional or take extensive safety precautions. Dead animals often contain various bacteria and diseases which can be incredibly dangerous to humans.