Don't be left in the cold the rest of this winter

You wake up one Saturday morning shivering, and realize you can't hear your furnace running. Do you know what to do if you find your home suddenly without heat? Enbridge Gas Distribution wants you to consider taking a few steps yourself, before reaching out to your certified heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor. These eight steps could save you time and money:

• Make sure your thermostat is turned to heat – not cool or off. This switch can be accidently moved to the wrong position during cleaning or dusting.

• Check that the vents throughout your house are not blocked by furniture or rugs.

• Turn your thermostat up a few degrees to see if the heating system kicks in.

• Take a walk outside your home to make sure that your appliance vents are not blocked with snow or ice. As a safety precaution, some furnaces will automatically turn off if vents are blocked.

• Locate your home's main electrical panel and check that your fuses haven't blown. If you have a circuit breaker, try resetting it.

• When was the last time you replaced or cleaned your furnace filter? A dirty filter can hinder your furnace's ability to heat your home. It should be replaced or cleaned every three months.

• Double check that your furnace's power switch is in the 'on' position. This is usually located on your furnace or on a wall nearby and looks like a regular light switch.

• Is the power out? Most furnaces require electricity to operate – even if you heat your home using natural gas.

If none of these steps fix the problem, it's time to call your certified HVAC contractor to diagnose the issue.