Portland & Vancouver homeowners:
What is your system doing?
Pick the symptom. Each page lists what you can safely check first, what it usually means, and when to call.
Quick answer
Most heating and cooling problems show up as a clear symptom: no heat, no cooling, noise, water, odd smells, or a system that turns on and off. Pick the symptom below. Each page lists the safe checks you can try first, what it usually means, and when to stop and call a technician.
At a glance
| Start with | Thermostat settings, breaker, and air filter |
|---|---|
| Gas smell | Leave now; call 911 and NW Natural from outside |
| CO alarm | Get everyone outside; call 911 |
| Symptoms covered | No heat, no cooling, noise, leaks, smells, cycling |
Pick your symptom
- Furnace blowing cold airWhy a furnace blows cold air, 6 safe checks you can do first, and when Portland and Vancouver homeowners should stop and call a technician.
- Furnace won't turn onFurnace won't start? Six safe checks for Portland and Vancouver homeowners, what usually causes it, and when to leave it for a technician.
- Heat pump not heatingHeat pump running but the house stays cold? Safe checks, what's normal in cold weather, and when Portland and Vancouver homeowners should call.
- Heat pump iced overFrost on a heat pump in winter is often normal. How defrost works, when a block of ice means trouble, and what Portland and Vancouver homeowners can check.
- AC not coolingAC running but the house stays warm? Six safe checks, common causes, and when Portland and Vancouver homeowners should call a technician.
- AC frozen linesIce on your AC lines or indoor coil? What to do first, why it freezes, and when Portland and Vancouver homeowners should call a technician.
- Short cyclingFurnace, heat pump, or AC turning on and off too often? What short cycling means, safe checks, and when Portland and Vancouver homeowners should call.
- Strange noisesBanging, squealing, buzzing, or hissing? What common furnace, heat pump, and AC sounds often mean, and which ones mean you should shut it off now.
- Water leakWater around your AC, heat pump, or high-efficiency furnace? Common drain and float switch causes, safe checks, and when to shut the system off.
- Thermostat not workingBlank screen, wrong temperature, or no response? Safe thermostat checks for Portland and Vancouver homes, and how to tell if it's the thermostat or the system.
- Uneven temperaturesOne room cold and another hot? Common causes like ducts, airflow, and insulation, safe checks, and when Portland and Vancouver homeowners should call.
- High energy billsHeating and cooling bills higher than usual? Common HVAC causes, simple checks, and how Portland and Vancouver homeowners can bring costs down.
- Burning smellA dusty smell at the first heat of the season is often normal. Burning plastic, electrical, or smoke smells are not. What to do, and when to shut it off.
- Gas smellSmell rotten eggs or gas? Leave the house now. Don't use switches, phones, or flames inside. Call 911 and NW Natural at 800-882-3377 from outside.
- Carbon monoxide alarmIf your CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911. What carbon monoxide is, the warning signs, and what happens next.
Not sure what's wrong yet?
Start with the safe checks. Many problems are a setting, a breaker, or a filter.
- Repair first: we fix what can be fixed
- You approve the price before work starts
- Sources listed for outside facts
Common questions
What should I check before calling for HVAC repair?
Check the thermostat mode and setpoint, replace dead thermostat batteries, look at the breaker, and check the air filter. Those four checks solve a surprising share of calls, and they're safe for any homeowner.
When should I turn my system off?
Turn it off if you hear grinding or loud metal-on-metal sounds, smell burning plastic or electrical odors, see water spreading, or a breaker trips again after one reset. Leave it off and call a technician.
What do I do if I smell gas?
Leave the house right away without using switches, phones, or flames inside. From outside, call 911 and NW Natural's 24-hour emergency line at 800-882-3377.
Can a problem page replace a technician visit?
No. The pages help you rule out simple causes and describe the symptom clearly. Anything beyond safe homeowner checks should be left for a technician.
Sources
- Smell natural gas or rotten eggs in your home? Smell. Go. Let us know. — NW Natural. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality — U.S. EPA. Checked 2026-09-24.
Last updated: · Reviewed by: HVAC Repair Guys