HVAC Emergency Checklist for Greater New Orleans Homeowners

When an HVAC system fails, the first few minutes matter more than the phone call. This checklist walks through how to shut the system down safely, what to gather before you call, and what should always be left to a technician.

Step 1: Decide If It's an Emergency

Situations that warrant shutting the system down and calling right away include:

• No cooling with indoor temperatures climbing, especially with infants, elderly residents, or anyone with a health condition at home
• A burning or electrical smell from the vents
• Water pouring from the air handler or a ceiling
• A breaker that keeps tripping
• Any gas smell near a furnace
• Ice on the coil that won't clear after shutting the system off

What Can Usually Wait

• Uneven cooling between rooms (often a duct or insulation issue — see our attic insulation guide)
• A musty smell with the system still cooling
• A higher-than-usual energy bill
• A thermostat that lost its schedule
• A squeaky blower on startup

Step 2: Shut the System Down Safely

1. Turn the system off at the thermostat first.
2. If you see water, smell something electrical, or a breaker keeps tripping, also switch off power at the breaker.
3. Do not reset a tripped breaker more than once.
4. Never open an electrical access panel, test a capacitor, or handle refrigerant lines — these require a professional.
5. If you smell natural gas, leave the house, contact the gas utility, and then call us for the follow-up repair.
6. If equipment has been flooded or submerged, do not attempt to restore power to it — have it inspected by a professional first.

Step 3: Gather Information Before You Call

• What you were doing or noticed right before the failure
• Any unusual smells or sounds
• Whether you see water or ice, and where
• Whether a breaker tripped and whether it will stay reset
• The general age of your system, if known

While You Wait

1. Change the air filter if it's visibly dirty.
2. Close blinds on the sunny side of the house and run ceiling fans.
3. Move vulnerable family members to a cooler part of the home, or a cooler location, if indoor temperatures climb.

Reducing the Odds of a Future Emergency

Many emergency calls trace back to something a seasonal tune-up would have caught — a weak capacitor, a clogged drain, or a slow refrigerant leak. A maintenance plan with two seasonal tune-ups a year, along with regular filter changes, is a straightforward way to reduce the chance of a mid-summer failure.