Winter Power Outages in Vancouver & Your Heating System
When the lights flicker a couple of times and suddenly your entire house goes dark, you already know what’s coming. Winter outages aren’t rare in Vancouver or Clark County. And the toughest part isn’t the darkness. Realizing your heat is gone and your home is getting colder by the minute.
If your furnace won’t turn back on after a power outage or your heat pump is totally dead, it might be time to call in the pros. Outages can really mess with the electrical and safety controls built into modern heating systems.
In this guide, we’re going to walk through what’s normal, what’s not, and what you should expect after the next winter outage hits
Why Winter Power Outages Are Becoming More Common in the PNW
If you’ve lived in the Vancouver area awhile, you’ve probably noticed outages are happening more often. The combination of atmospheric rivers, freezing rain, windstorms, saturated soil, and old grid infrastructure means Vancouver’s power can go out with very little warning.
The problem is that many neighborhoods here still rely on overhead lines surrounded by tall trees. If one branch snaps or the wind hits just right, a whole street can go dark.
If your hvac system furnace won’t turn on after a power outage, this can be a major issue.
What Happens to Your Heating System When the Power Goes Out
Even though furnaces and heat pumps do different jobs, they all have one big thing in common: they need electricity. So once the power goes out, here’s what each system does (or doesn’t do):
Gas Furnaces
A gas furnace sounds like it should keep running.
“I have gas heat, so I’m good, right?”
Not really. Your furnace still needs electricity for the ignitor, the blower motor, the control board, and the safety shutoffs.
So when the power goes out, your gas furnace shuts down like everything else.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps stop instantly. There’s no soft shutdown or “final warm burst.” And when the power comes back, they may need a few minutes to reboot. Sometimes the outdoor unit freezes during long outages, which can delay the restart even more.
That’s why heat pump power loss in Vancouver, WA, tends to cause a lot of panic. However, it’s usually just the system going through its reboot steps.
Ductless Mini Splits
Ductless mini splits shut down too, and when power returns, the indoor heads may blink or flash error lights while they reboot. They’re pretty sensitive to voltage dips and surges.
Electric Furnaces
Without electricity, you’ll get absolutely no heat after an outage. These get hit hardest during winter outages.
Why Your Furnace or Heat Pump Might Not Turn Back On Right Away
This is where most homeowners start feeling confused. The power comes back, the lights turn on, and the fridge beeps, but the furnace or heat pump is still dead. Yours might try to start or hum a little, but then stop.
There are a few reasons for this:
Your furnace might go into lockout mode.
Your thermostat may need to reconnect to WiFi or reboot.
A power surge could have tripped the breaker when the grid came back online.
The control board might need a minute to reset because of a tripped circuit breaker.
For heat pumps, the outdoor unit might be frozen solid and needs time to defrost.
Unfortunately, performing a furnace reset after a power outage isn’t always as simple as it sounds, and sometimes requires the help of a professional.
Temporary Heating Options During an Outage (Safe & Unsafe)
Let’s talk about what actually works vs. what gets people in trouble.
Safe things you can use in this instance:
Portable battery-powered heaters
Wood stoves and gas fireplaces, as long as there’s proper ventilation.
Bundling up, closing off unused rooms, using thick blankets, and adding draft blockers.
Emergency blankets and warm layers, especially overnight.
Unsafe options (please avoid):
Using your kitchen oven as a heater (this is a CO and fire hazard).
Running generators indoors (seriously, people still try this).
Unventilated kerosene or propane heaters.
Plugging in every space heater you own once the power comes back, and overloading the outlets.
Outages can be stressful, but you should never put your home or health at risk to stay warm.
How to Prepare Your Furnace or Heat Pump for Winter Outages
You can’t prevent storms, but you can make outages easier on your home.
Here are a few things that help a lot:
Surge protectors for furnaces and heat pumps reduce the risk of control board damage.
Check your breakers and visible wiring before winter to make sure nothing is loose.
Keep your outdoor heat pump unit clear of branches, leaves, or ice buildup.
Make sure your thermostat is updated. WiFi thermostats glitch all the time after outages.
Get a pre-winter tune-up so your system restarts smoothly once power returns.
And yes, having an outage kit helps: batteries, flashlights, blankets, power banks, and bottled water.
What to Do After Power Is Restored
Once everything flicks back on, your heating system may need time to catch up. Here’s what usually helps to trouble shoot hvac electrical issues and more:
If You Have a Furnace
Start with the thermostat. Make sure it’s actually calling for heat. Then check the breaker. A power surge during the outage may have tripped it. After that, give your furnace five to ten minutes.
If it still refuses to run, you’re now dealing with a deeper issue and you probably need a tech.
If You Have a Heat Pump
Your heat pump might enter defrost mode right after power returns. That’s normal. It’s melting ice from the outdoor coil.
If the heat pump won’t restart at all, is making buzzing noises, or the outdoor unit looks frozen over, it may have taken damage during the outage. In this instance of heat pump power loss in Vancouver, WA, it’s important to turn to professional help.
When to Call a Professional
If your heat still isn’t working after basic reset steps, something more serious is going on.
Here are the signs you should get help right away:
Your furnace won’t turn on even after resetting the breaker
You smell burning or see smoke
The breaker trips right away every time you try to restart
Your heat pump is making loud buzzing or grinding sounds
The thermostat refuses to communicate with the system
Your outdoor heat pump unit is covered in ice
Why Homeowners Trust Miller’s During Winter Outages
When heating systems fail during outages, people don’t want a sales pitch. They want answers and heat. That’s why Vancouver homeowners trust Miller’s. We know how these outages affect furnaces, heat pumps, and electrical panels because we deal with them every winter.
Our licensed technicians can diagnose power-related heating issues fast, repair things safely, and never push unnecessary upgrades. We understand the quirks of the local grid, older wiring in Vancouver homes, and how heat pumps and furnaces behave after a storm. And since we’ve been serving this area since 1947, we’ve been through every type of winter outage you can imagine.
Conclusion: Prepare Your Home Before the Next Winter Outage
Winter outages aren’t going away anytime soon, and they can hit your heating system hard. Knowing how your furnace or heat pump responds to a power loss can save you a ton of stress down the line.
If you want your furnace or heat pump to bounce back faster after the next outage, schedule a pre-winter inspection with Miller’s. We’ll take care of any HVAC electrical system issues you’re dealing with.
How can Miller’s help you?
Fill out the form below to request information about our products and services,
and a Miller’s Heating & Air Representative will contact you shortly.
If you have an emergency give us a call.
VANCOUVER : (360) 695-6500
PORTLAND : (503) 972-2434
