How Emergency Heating Services Can Protect Your Household

Your heater is one of the most important devices in your home. It is your first line of defense against winter weather, which can be both dangerous and destructive. If your house gets too cold, your pipes may freeze and burst. Your physical and mental health may also suffer, especially if the problem persists for many days. It is crucial to keep your heater in good condition throughout the winter. Our team will help you understand the dangers of cold weather and how your furnace keeps you safe.

Cold Weather Threatens Your Health

We often think of heating in terms of comfort, but it is also vital for our health. In some cases, low temperatures may aggravate underlying health problems or make you more vulnerable to infections or complications during an illness. These issues can be very dangerous, especially if you have small children or elderly people in your residence.

If your home is too cold, your body will constrict your blood vessels to retain heat. This puts extra strain on your heart, which can increase your risk of cardiovascular issues. Cold air will also irritate your airways and make you more vulnerable to respiratory infections. Most people also experience joint stiffness in unheated buildings. While this may sound like a minor problem, it can lead to dangerous accidents. If you value your health, you should prioritize indoor safety and comfort.

A broken or unreliable heater can be a major threat to your health during the winter. That is why many local heating companies offer emergency repair services. We can schedule a visit to your home, identify your heater’s issues, and fix them before your house gets too cold. Calling a repair team is an investment in your health and safety.

Freezing Water Damages Pipes

Your pipes usually contain some amount of water, even when a faucet or fixture isn’t in use. As the temperature inside your home drops, water will start to freeze and expand. The ice will put pressure on your pipes, which can make them crack or burst. This is most likely to happen to exposed and uninsulated pipes, such as garage and kitchen piping. However, any pipe in your home can freeze, especially if your heater breaks down.

You can expect pipe damage to cause problems as soon as they begin to thaw. Water will flow out of the cracks in the pipe and soak your home. A burst pipe is a household emergency as well. These problems can encourage mold growth and undermine your home’s structural integrity. The water may also damage your electrical system, which can lead to devastating electrical fires or electrical shock. If your pipes break, your home may not be safe until you invest in repairs.

Your furnace or heat pump can protect your home’s pipes. As long as your heating equipment stays operational, your home’s internal temperature will remain above freezing. If your heater fails, the temperature inside your home will drop quickly. If temperatures outside are below freezing and strong winds are present, your interior temperature can drop substantially in a few hours.

You can protect your pipes by scheduling repairs for your heater before your home loses heat. Also consider adding insulation around your pipes and your water heater. In areas of your plumbing system where freezing is a concern, heat tape can be installed. Winterize your outdoor fixtures before the outside temperature drops, and invest in frost-proof spigots or covers to prevent freezing.

Low Temperatures Disrupt Sleep

Reduced exposure to sunlight can easily disrupt our sleep cycles. Faulty heaters can make the situation even worse. Low temperatures may make you feel uncomfortable, which can make it almost impossible to fall asleep. If you want to sleep through the night, you need to keep your home as comfortable as possible. Lack of heat can also impact indoor air quality, which can influence sleep.

Sleep deprivation is a major threat to your mental health. It often makes people feel anxious, irritable, or depressed. In some cases, it may reduce your ability to focus and stay productive. Those issues can amplify other sources of stress, so poor sleep can have a massive impact on your life. Most people can tolerate a few nights of bad sleep, but it can be dangerous to ignore the issue long-term.

Sleep is also crucial for your physical health. Scientists have linked insomnia to diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Inadequate sleep can also increase your risk of obesity, and that can contribute to many other health problems. Fatigue may lead to dangerous accidents. The good news is that you can protect yourself by maintaining a warm, cozy, and healthy environment in your bedroom.

Condensation Causes Problems

The air is full of water vapor. If you allow the temperature inside your home to decrease, some of that vapor will condense. You may find moisture accumulating on surfaces, such as windows or mirrors. Unfortunately, moisture can cause a variety of problems. A small amount of condensation is harmless, but excessive moisture is a significant issue for unheated buildings.

Condensation will facilitate mold and mildew growth inside your house. These fungi are dangerous because they can cause structural damage and destroy your home’s insulation. Extensive fungal growth may even ruin rugs, furniture, and other items. Mold can be difficult to detect, so most homeowners struggle to prevent those issues. If it gets a foothold in your home, it is likely to cause problems for a long time.

Mold and other fungi also contribute to medical issues by negatively impacting your home’s indoor air quality. They release spores, which are some of the most common allergens in the average home. Those spores may also trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals. Like most small particles, they can irritate your respiratory system, and they may interfere with your ability to sleep. Symptoms will persist until you remove the mold from your home.

Mold remediation can be very involved, invasive, and expensive. Preventative techniques are much more effective. For example, you can avoid most interior condensation by keeping your home warm. If your heater breaks down, you should call an emergency heating repair team as quickly as possible. In many cases, condensation can form and mold can grow within a day or two. Mold spreads very quickly, even after your heating issue has been addressed.

Emergency Heating Services Protect Families

Low temperatures are uncomfortable, destructive, and dangerous. That is why you should contact a knowledgeable and reliable repair team as soon as you notice a problem with your heater. Fortunately, our experts can help you solve all your heating issues. At Black-Haak, we strive to provide a complete set of emergency heating services in the Fox Valley, WI area.

We can also perform routine maintenance for your heating system, which will prevent many mechanical issues. If you’re in need of a heating system upgrade, we would be happy to walk you through the process and take care of the installation. Call Black-Haak in Fox Valley today to make an appointment with our skilled HVAC technicians.