A Proud Canadian HVAC Company
Power outages can happen anytime in Ontario—especially during storms, extreme cold, or heavy winds. Preparing your HVAC system in advance helps protect your home, keep your family safe, and avoid costly repairs. Here’s everything you need to know.
Power outages can cause unexpected damage to HVAC systems when electricity surges return.
Switching off your furnace, AC, or heat pump during a blackout can prevent costly repairs.
Simple steps like sealing drafts, using a generator safely, and scheduling maintenance can save energy and protect your home.
Econoair offers emergency HVAC support, inspections, surge protection guidance, and maintenance plans to keep your system running smoothly after an outage.
Power outages can be inconvenient, stressful, and uncomfortable—especially when temperatures drop below freezing or spike during a summer heatwave. For homeowners in the GTA, Mississauga, Toronto, and surrounding areas, a power outage doesn’t just mean the lights go out. It means your furnace, heat pump, or AC stops running, your home can cool or heat unevenly, and your HVAC equipment becomes vulnerable to potential damage when the power kicks back in.
The good news? With proper preparation, you can protect your home, keep your HVAC system safe, and ensure that when power returns, everything starts up smoothly. Whether you’re relying on a high-efficiency furnace, a heat pump, or a central air conditioning system, a little planning makes a big difference.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to prepare your HVAC system for a power outage, what steps to take before, during, and after the outage, and how Econoair’s expert technicians can help you stay safe, comfortable, and ready for anything.
Power outages don’t just shut your HVAC system off—they disrupt the way your equipment communicates, restarts, and manages airflow. Modern furnaces, heat pumps, and AC units rely heavily on electrical components such as control boards, sensors, compressors, and blower motors. When power is suddenly lost, these components stop mid-cycle. That alone isn’t usually harmful—but what is harmful is the surge that often follows when electricity returns to the grid.
This surge can overload your system’s delicate circuits, causing damage that ranges from a disabled thermostat to a burnt-out motor or control board. Many homeowners don’t realize that even a short outage can lead to long-term issues like reduced efficiency, inconsistent heating or cooling, and early system failure.
Understanding these risks is the first step toward proper preparation—and ultimately, protecting your investment and comfort.
Preparation begins long before the lights go out. If you’re in the GTA, Toronto, Mississauga, or surrounding areas—where storms, winter freezes, and grid strain are common—this is especially important.
Start with whole-home surge protection, which shields your HVAC system from the damaging jolt of electricity that often follows an outage. Consider getting your furnace, AC, or heat pump inspected seasonally; a healthy system recovers from outages better, and technicians can identify vulnerabilities like loose wiring, failing capacitors, or weak motors.
You should also prepare your home itself: sealing drafts, adding weatherstripping, insulating basements or crawl spaces, and installing blackout curtains all help maintain indoor temperature when your equipment is offline. These small adjustments can add hours of comfort during an outage.
Finally, build a backup comfort plan—blankets, battery-powered fans, a portable generator (used safely), and emergency kits. Being prepared reduces stress and keeps your system safe when the unexpected happens.
The moment you lose power, your HVAC system is vulnerable. The best action you can take is to turn off your system at the thermostat. This prevents it from attempting to restart while the electrical grid is unstable. If electricity begins flickering, your equipment may try to reboot multiple times, putting strain on motors, compressors, and relays.
Close all windows and doors to help maintain indoor temperature. In winter, keep blinds and curtains closed to trap heat. In summer, open windows only if outside air is cooler. Avoid opening your fridge or freezer too often to preserve food.
If you plan to use a generator, make sure it’s set up outside and far from windows. Never power your furnace or AC directly with a portable generator unless a transfer switch is professionally installed. Carbon monoxide and backfeed risks are serious.
These quick steps help protect both your home and your HVAC system while minimizing safety hazards.
When power is restored, resist the urge to instantly turn everything back on. Your home’s electrical system needs a few minutes to stabilize. This small delay prevents power surges from reaching your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump.
Once you’ve waited 5–10 minutes, reset your thermostat. Smart thermostats sometimes enter safety modes after outages, so check your temperature settings and system mode. Inspect your HVAC appliances to ensure nothing looks or sounds unusual—no burning smells, rattling, or debris around the outdoor unit.
Restart the system slowly:
Turn your thermostat off.
Turn your furnace or outdoor unit breaker on.
Set the thermostat to heat or cool.
Allow the system to run a full cycle.
If the system won’t turn on, is blowing cold air when it shouldn’t, short cycling, or making unusual noises, stop running it and call a professional. Outage-related damage may not be obvious at first, but early intervention prevents deeper issues.
Econoair provides a full range of services to keep your HVAC system safe before, during, and after power outages. Homeowners across Toronto, the GTA, Mississauga, and Richmond Hill rely on Econoair’s technicians for surge protection installations that safeguard sensitive HVAC components from voltage spikes.
Econoair also offers emergency service for post-outage furnace, AC, and heat pump issues. If your system shorted, won’t restart, or is behaving oddly after a blackout, Econoair can inspect and diagnose the issue quickly. Seasonal maintenance, which includes full system testing, electrical checks, safety inspections, and filter changes, ensures your unit is strong enough to withstand unexpected shutdowns.
If the outage reveals a deeper problem—such as a failing heat exchanger, compressor issue, or aging system—Econoair provides fast, competitively priced replacement options, including high-efficiency Carrier heat pumps and furnaces.
Econoair’s Econo Care Plans also offer year-round protection, ensuring your system runs smoothly and minimizing surprise breakdowns during extreme weather.
During a power outage, the most important step is to turn your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump off at the thermostat. This prevents the system from trying to restart automatically while the electrical grid is unstable. Power surges that occur when electricity flickers or returns can damage motors, control boards, and compressors.
You should also keep doors and windows closed, avoid using unsafe heating sources, and unplug sensitive appliances.
How Econoair can help:
Econoair can install HVAC-specific surge protection and perform seasonal maintenance so your system stays safe during sudden shutdowns. They also provide emergency support if your furnace or heat pump fails after an outage.
Yes, power outages themselves don’t usually cause damage — but the surge that occurs when power is restored can. This surge can overload:
Furnace control boards
AC/heat pump compressors
Blower motors
Thermostat wiring
Safety sensors
Systems that were in the middle of a heating or cooling cycle when the outage occurred are at even higher risk.
How Econoair can help:
Econoair can check your equipment after the outage to ensure no hidden damage occurred. If your system won’t turn back on or is acting unusual, their technicians can diagnose and repair the issue quickly.
You should wait 5–10 minutes before restarting your HVAC system after electricity returns. This gives your home’s electrical system time to stabilize and prevents a surge from hitting your HVAC equipment.
After waiting, restart your system gradually:
Set the thermostat to OFF
Turn the breaker ON
Set the thermostat to HEAT or COOL
Allow the unit to run a full cycle
How Econoair can help:
If your furnace or AC doesn’t turn back on, short cycles, or makes unusual noises after restarting, Econoair can perform a full post-outage inspection to ensure the system is safe.
If your HVAC system won’t turn on after a power outage, common causes include:
A tripped breaker
Blown fuse
Damaged control board
Thermostat lockout mode
Frozen compressor (in summer)
Overheated furnace safety lock
Voltage fluctuations affecting sensors
Sometimes, your system will enter “protection mode,” meaning it needs to reset for 15–30 minutes before restarting.
How Econoair can help:
Econoair technicians can inspect wiring, test motors and sensors, reset safety controls, and repair any components damaged by the outage. They offer fast service across the GTA.
You should never directly connect a portable generator to your HVAC system unless your home has a professionally installed transfer switch. Improper generator use can cause:
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Backfeed into the electrical grid
Equipment overload
Fire hazards
Portable generators typically don’t produce stable power, and HVAC systems require clean, consistent voltage to operate safely.
How Econoair can help:
Econoair can provide guidance on safe backup solutions for heating and cooling and help you determine whether a standby generator system is compatible with your HVAC equipment.
To maintain indoor warmth:
Close all doors and windows
Use weatherstripping and draft stoppers
Keep blinds and curtains closed
Gather in one room to retain heat
Use safe, approved backup heaters
Place towels at the bottom of doors to limit heat escape
Avoid using ovens, stovetops, or fuel-burning devices indoors.
How Econoair can help:
Econoair offers emergency furnace repair and post-outage inspections to ensure your system restarts safely and without hidden damage.
Yes. If a storm is expected to cause power loss, turning your AC or heat pump off at the thermostat can prevent the system from shutting down mid-cycle and experiencing a surge when power returns.
Outdoor AC/heat pump units are particularly vulnerable because they contain compressors that are sensitive to electrical instability.
How Econoair can help:
Econoair can install surge protectors and provide seasonal tune-ups to strengthen your system’s resilience during storm-related outages.
Yes — Econoair provides emergency heating and cooling service across the GTA, including Toronto, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, and surrounding areas. If your furnace or heat pump won’t restart, smells like burning, short cycles, or shows error codes after an outage, Econoair can diagnose and fix the issue quickly.
Keeping your home warm, safe, and comfortable starts with a well-maintained furnace and a properly functioning thermostat. Over time, dust, debris, and neglect can reduce efficiency, raise energy bills, and even pose serious safety risks — like carbon monoxide leaks or fire hazards. That’s where Econoair comes in. As one of Toronto and the GTA’s most trusted heating and cooling experts, we help homeowners protect their homes, maintain comfort, and enjoy long-term savings.
Our licensed technicians provide comprehensive services, from furnace cleaning and maintenance to thermostat inspections, system repairs, and efficiency checks. We guide you through every step, including safety testing, filter replacement, and energy-saving tips, ensuring your heating system works efficiently and reliably.
We proudly serve Toronto, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Mississauga, Brampton, Scarborough, and surrounding GTA areas, helping homeowners prevent unexpected breakdowns, reduce energy bills, and enjoy clean, safe air throughout the year.
Whether you need a routine furnace tune-up, emergency repair, or help troubleshooting your thermostat, Econoair ensures a worry-free experience — with professional service, 24/7 emergency support, competitive pricing, and guaranteed satisfaction.
Unsure what you require or what system you have? Call us!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Indoor Air Quality and Home Heating Full Guide for Toronto & GTA Homeowners Your heating system does more than keep your home warm during Toronto and GTA winters—it also affects the air you breathe. Poorly maintained furnaces, clogged filters, or dirty ducts can reduce indoor air
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Furnace Full Guide for Toronto & GTA Homeowners Your furnace works hard to keep your home warm during harsh Canadian winters. But without proper care, it can wear out faster than expected. Simple steps like replacing filters, cleaning ducts,
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW How to Keep Your Home Warm Without Overworking Your Furnace Full Guide for Toronto & GTA Homeowners Staying warm during a Canadian winter doesn’t have to mean blasting your furnace all day. In fact, with a few smart home adjustments, you can keep your space cozy
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW How to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Heat Loss in Toronto Homes Full Guide for Toronto & GTA Homeowners Toronto winters can be harsh, and frozen pipes or heat loss can quickly turn into costly problems. Proper preparation and home maintenance are key to keeping your plumbing
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Why Heat Pumps Freeze Up in Winter and How to Fix It Full Guide for Toronto & GTA Homeowners Heat pumps are built for cold Canadian winters, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to freezing issues. When your heat pump gets covered in ice or struggles
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Power Outage Prep: Protecting Your Furnace, AC, and Heat Pump Power outages can happen anytime in Ontario—especially during storms, extreme cold, or heavy winds. Preparing your HVAC system in advance helps protect your home, keep your family safe, and avoid costly repairs. Here’s everything you need
a Canadian HVAC Company
Richmond Hill: 85 West Wilmot St. unit 12 Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1K7
Toronto: 1015 Bloor St W Second Unit 203, Toronto, Ontario M6H 1M1
Showroom hours: Mon – Fri: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Available 24/7 on phone
Saturday & Sunday: Contact by phone
After Hours & Holidays: Contact by phone
