No heat: safe checks before you call
Make sure the thermostat is set to heat and a few degrees above room temperature, and replace its batteries if the display is blank. Look for a light switch near the furnace that may have been turned off and check the breaker. A badly clogged filter can make a furnace shut itself down, so replace it if it is gray and packed. If the furnace still does not run, stop there. Do not remove burner panels, jump safety switches or keep restarting a unit that shuts down.
Carbon monoxide and gas come first
Columbia Gas of Ohio advises that if your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or you have symptoms such as headache, dizziness or nausea, you should get to fresh air and call 911, and not go back inside until responders say it is safe. If you smell rotten eggs, leave without using switches, phones or the garage door opener and call 911 and Columbia Gas of Ohio from outside. The utility recommends a carbon monoxide detector on every level and in sleeping areas.
Furnace, heat pump or air conditioner?
Many Columbus homes heat with a natural gas furnace, while others use a heat pump with electric backup heat. A heat pump in heating mode can feel cooler at the vents and may run longer during deep cold, which is normal, but a heat pump blowing cold air for long periods, ice that never clears or a tripped backup heat breaker needs a technician. In summer, an air conditioner that runs without cooling may have airflow, refrigerant or electrical problems. Tell the provider which system you have.
Winter cold and pipe risk
When the heat fails during a central Ohio cold snap, the plumbing is at risk too. Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, let a faucet drip, and keep the house as warm as you safely can. Never use an oven, a grill or a generator indoors for heat. If the house will get dangerously cold, go somewhere warm and let the provider know your timeline.
Columbus permit rules for furnace and AC replacement
The City of Columbus lists replacing a furnace or air conditioning unit as work that requires a permit but not plan review. Trade permits in Columbus are pulled by contractors registered with the city, or by a homeowner for work they do themselves on a single-family home they live in. Replacing equipment can involve gas piping, venting and electrical changes, each of which is inspected. Ask the provider who pulls the permit and when the inspection happens.
Questions to ask an HVAC provider
Ask for the diagnostic or after-hours fee before the visit, the failed part and its price, whether repair or replacement is more sensible for your system's age, and the written warranty terms. For a replacement, ask for the equipment model, size calculation, efficiency rating and what happens to the old unit. Ohio's Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses HVAC contractors for commercial work, and Columbus registers trade contractors for permits, so ask how the company is registered.
Filters, vents and airflow
Many no-heat and no-cooling calls start with airflow. A packed filter, closed supply registers, furniture over a return grille or a blocked outdoor unit can all cause a system to overheat, freeze up or shut down on a safety limit. Check the filter size printed on its frame and replace it with the same size. Keep two feet or so of clear space around an outdoor heat pump or AC unit, and after heavy snow gently clear snow away from it without chipping at ice on the coil. If airflow problems keep coming back, ask the provider to check the blower, ductwork and system sizing.
Suburbs and townships
Dublin, Westerville, Worthington and other suburbs run separate building departments, and some township addresses fall under Franklin County. Confirm the permit office for your property.
Before you call
- 1Check thermostat mode, batteries, the furnace power switch, the breaker and the filter before calling.
- 2Leave immediately and call 911 if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or you smell gas.
- 3Never heat the home with an oven, grill or generator indoors.
- 4Ask for the diagnostic fee, repair price and replacement scope in writing before work starts.
Common homeowner questions
What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Get everyone to fresh air and call 911. Do not go back inside until emergency responders say it is safe. Have a qualified technician inspect fuel-burning appliances before using them again.
Do I need a permit to replace a furnace in Columbus?
Yes. The City of Columbus lists furnace or AC replacement as work that needs a permit but not plan review. The installing contractor normally pulls the permit, and the city inspects the work.
Is it normal for a heat pump to run constantly in winter?
A heat pump often runs longer in cold weather and the air can feel cooler than a gas furnace. Long periods of cold air, heavy ice that never clears or backup heat that never engages are reasons to call a technician.
Can Ohio Service Hub send a furnace technician right away?
Ohio Service Hub is a referral service and does not employ technicians. Your call is connected to an independent local HVAC provider, which sets its own availability, pricing and arrival times.
Government and primary-source references
- City of Columbus — Typical Residential Projects permit guide (2026)
- City of Columbus — Building & Zoning Services FAQ
- Columbia Gas of Ohio — Carbon monoxide safety
- Columbia Gas of Ohio — How to recognize a gas leak
- PUCO — Natural gas safety and Ohio811
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
External references support general guidance. They do not verify any specific contractor or provide a booking.