Your boiler died in January. Here's what to do.

First 15 minutes: assess and prevent damage

1. Check the obvious. Thermostat batteries dead? Breaker tripped? Gas valve closed? Emergency switch off? 30% of "boiler died" calls are one of these.
2. Open all interior doors. Helps any remaining heat redistribute.
3. Drop room thermostats to OFF so you don't waste any heat the system might temporarily recover.
4. If indoor temps are dropping toward 50°F: open faucets at the lowest point of the house to a SLOW trickle. Prevents pipes from freezing. Critical step.
5. Close blinds and curtains to retain heat. Stuff towels under exterior doors if drafty.

Next 15 minutes: try to restart

If you're comfortable doing so (it's safe — modern boilers have multiple safeties):

1. Power cycle: emergency switch off, wait 30 seconds, switch on.
2. Check the display for error codes. Note any specific code shown (e.g., E03, F05). This tells the tech a lot.
3. Check system pressure. 12-15 PSI cold is normal. Below 5 PSI = low-water lockout. Top up via fill valve to 12 PSI (slowly).
4. If there's a manual reset button (red button on the unit): press it ONCE. If the boiler fires up and stays on, problem may be resolved. If it dies again within minutes, leave it off — repeated reset cycling makes things worse.
5. Turn the thermostat up to test the heat call.

If after these steps the boiler is running and stable: great, schedule routine service for diagnostic. Note the symptom for the tech.

If it's still dead: call us.

Calling us — what to expect

1. Phone triage first. We'll walk through your symptoms over the phone (no charge). Sometimes that's enough to identify the issue or guide you to a fix that doesn't need a visit.
2. If a visit is needed: we'll quote the emergency diagnostic fee upfront ($240-$420 typical for after-hours/weekends). This is standard for the industry — we don't gouge.
3. Most repairs are same-visit. We carry common parts on the truck — expansion tanks, igniters, flame rods, gas valves, control boards for common units. 70%+ of emergency calls are resolved on the first visit.
4. If parts need to be ordered: we'll set you up with space heaters (we sometimes loan them) and minimize the gap. Aim for next-day if possible.

How to avoid getting gouged

Mid-winter no-heat calls are when unscrupulous companies extract the most money. A few patterns to watch:

• "Your boiler needs replacement" stated within 10 minutes of arrival, with no diagnostic shown. Get a second opinion. Replacement is sometimes the right answer but should be backed by data.
• Refusal to give pricing upfront. Quality companies quote diagnostic fee BEFORE arriving, and major repair quotes BEFORE doing work.
• "Emergency surcharge" of 100%+ over normal rates. Standard surcharges are 30-60%. Higher than that is opportunistic.
• Pressure to "decide right now" on a major repair or replacement. Walk away. Get a second quote.

Reputable companies will document the diagnostic, show you the issue, and give you written quotes for repair or replacement options. Take the time to decide.

What NOT to do (ever)

• Never run a gas stove for heat. Real CO poisoning risk. Killer of dozens of people per year.
• Never run a generator indoors or in an attached garage.
• Don't use a propane heater without proper ventilation. Same CO risk.
• Don't leave the house with a dead boiler in deep freeze. Pipes will freeze and burst, costing $5,000-$30,000 in water damage.
• Don't pour antifreeze into your boiler system from auto parts. Wrong type of glycol. Hire a pro for system freeze protection.

Quick answers