September 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Your furnace makes a weird noise at 10 PM on a Tuesday. Your AC stops cooling on a Saturday afternoon. Is this a "drop everything and call now" situation, or can it wait until Monday? Knowing the difference saves you emergency service fees and — more importantly — protects your family from genuinely dangerous situations.
Call Immediately (True Emergencies)
Gas Smell
If you smell rotten eggs or sulfur near your furnace or anywhere in your home: leave the house immediately. Don't flip switches, light matches, or use your phone inside. Call your gas company (Columbia Gas: 1-800-344-4077) from outside, then call us. Gas leaks can cause explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Detector Going Off
Evacuate immediately. CO is odorless and lethal. Once you're outside and safe, call 911, then call us. A cracked heat exchanger is the most common HVAC-related cause of CO leaks.
No Heat When It's Below Freezing
In Marion winters, a dead furnace isn't just uncomfortable — it's dangerous. Pipes can freeze in hours, causing thousands in water damage. If your furnace won't start and it's below 32°F outside, call for emergency service. While waiting:
- Open cabinet doors under sinks (lets warm air reach pipes)
- Use space heaters safely (away from curtains, never leave unattended)
- Let faucets drip slightly to prevent freezing
Electrical Burning Smell or Sparking
Turn off your HVAC system at the breaker immediately. Burning electrical insulation smells acrid and sharp — distinctly different from a "dusty first startup" smell. This can indicate a short circuit or overheating motor that's a fire risk.
Schedule a Repair (Not an Emergency)
AC Stops Cooling in Summer (Above 50°F)
Uncomfortable but not dangerous. Check your filter (dirty filter is the #1 cause), make sure the outdoor unit isn't blocked by debris, and verify your thermostat is set correctly. If basic checks don't fix it, schedule a repair within a day or two.
Unusual Noises (But System Still Works)
Rattling, humming, or clicking that's new but the system still heats/cools? Schedule a repair soon but it's not urgent. The exception: banging or metallic grinding — shut it off and call sooner, as these can indicate a loose or broken internal component that could cause further damage.
Thermostat Issues
Display not working, temperature reading seems wrong, or the system won't respond to setting changes? Try replacing the batteries first (most thermostats use AA or AAA). If that doesn't work, schedule a service call — it's rarely urgent.
Water Around the Indoor Unit
A puddle near your furnace or air handler usually means a clogged condensate drain. Not an emergency, but schedule a repair within a few days to prevent water damage to flooring or the system itself.
PJ's Emergency Service
We offer 24/7 emergency HVAC service for Marion, OH and surrounding areas. For true emergencies, call (740) 382-6141 anytime — day, night, weekends, and holidays. For non-emergency repairs, call during business hours and we'll get you on the schedule quickly. No surprise pricing — we quote before we start.