Question about gas heat not working

[kwelch10377]

I have gas heat/gas stove in my apt. Well something is wrong with the heat. I woke up this morning and the apt was 51 degrees and all of the radiators are cold to the touch. We did make sure that all the knobs are the radiators are turned on.

I have no idea what the issue could be, I have a call into my landlord though. If the gas stove is working, does that mean that there should be nothing wrong with gas getting to the house for both the stove and heat? Any ideas what might be the issue?

 

[golfgal]

Check the pilot light on the furnace. My guess is it is out. There should be lighting instructions on a panel for the furnace--usually in newish ones there is just a red reset button you have to click. If it has been really windy in your area sometimes that can blow out pilot lights. Since your stove works, it probably isn't anything with your gas line.

 

[NotUrsula]

And if I misunderstood I apologize, but for God's sake, DO NOT OPEN THE GAS VALVES ON THE RADIATORS IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY HEAT at all.

If the system has a pilot light and it's out, you may be filling your home with gas. If you cannot smell it, that's a good sign, but still no guarantee that it is not there, so close those valves. (And it's a good idea to open some windows and air the place out, just in case there is carbon monoxide lurking about.)

PS: I agree with the NP's note about batteries in the thermostat; newer ones usually are not hardwired.

 

[tazdev3225]

I had a similar problem last year and it turned out to be the thermostat. The batteries had died. It's worth checking them out.

 

[Geoff_M]

If the furnace was made in the last 15 or so years there's probably an LED on the furnace's circuit board that will tell you what's wrong. If you have access to the furnace, remove the cover (should be able to do without any tools) and look for a blinking LED. See if it blinks for a certain number of times, pauses, and then repeats the number of blinks. Count the number of blinks. Usually, there will be a list of the codes and their meanings printed on the board.

 

[kwelch10377]

I have no idea how old the furance is. I am hoping it is as simple as the pilot light. We are due for another winter storm tomorrow and Wed and the last thing I want is to be without heat. Thankfully though we do have a fireplace.

I'm not home right now, but I just talked to my landlord who lived upstairs and he is going to take a look at it.