Vent, Valve & Volt
No heat in the house at all

This one needs a licensed pro

Stop: call a licensed electrician about the panel

A hot or scorched breaker, a burning smell at the panel, or water near it means a licensed electrician should check the panel before anyone touches a breaker.

Why this happens

Bob Vila lists a breaker that gets hot and a breaker with scorch marks among the signs of a bad circuit breaker, and says most breaker problems need a licensed electrician. CDC says never to turn power on or off while standing in water.

What to do right now

  1. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911 from outside. The Red Cross says to get out, stay out and call 911.
  2. Don't touch the panel or any breaker, and don't try to reset the furnace breaker. If the floor near the panel is wet, step away from it. CDC says never to turn power on or off while standing in water.
  3. If the burning smell gets stronger, leave the house and call 911 from outside.
  4. Call a licensed electrician to check the panel and the breaker. Bob Vila says most breaker problems need a licensed electrician.
  5. Leave the furnace off until the electrician has checked the panel. If the heat still won't start after that, call an HVAC technician.

When to stop. If you see smoke or flames, or the burning smell gets stronger, get everyone out and call 911 from outside. If you smell gas or rotten eggs, leave the house without touching any switch and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or anyone feels dizzy, sick or has a headache, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911.

What to tell the electrician

  • What you saw at the panel: heat, scorch marks, a burning smell or water, and which breaker.
  • Whether the furnace breaker had tripped and whether anyone reset it.
  • When you first noticed it.
  • Where any water near the panel came from.

Build the full list: what to tell the licensed electrician.

Start this troubleshooter over

References (every fact above comes from one of these pages)
  1. Bob Vila: Circuit breaker keeps tripping
  2. CDC: Protect yourself from electrical hazards after a disaster
  3. American Red Cross: What to do if a fire starts
  4. American Gas Association: Using natural gas safely
  5. CPSC: Carbon monoxide information center

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