Treat it as an emergency if you smell gas, a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, you see smoke or smell hot wiring, or the house is losing heat below about 55°F in winter or climbing past 85°F with an infant, an older adult, or someone medically fragile at home. For gas or carbon monoxide, get everyone outside first and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. For everything else, call (414) 429-5333 and Hub City will connect you with an independent local Lubbock HVAC pro.
Most heating and cooling problems feel urgent when they happen, but only a few are dangerous. Knowing the difference tells you whether to leave the house, call tonight, or book the first appointment tomorrow.
What counts as a true HVAC emergency?
These call for action right now, not a morning appointment:
- A gas smell (rotten eggs or sulfur) near the furnace, water heater, or anywhere in the house.
- A carbon monoxide alarm going off, especially if anyone has a headache, nausea, or dizziness.
- Smoke, sparks, or a hot electrical or melting-plastic smell from the furnace, air handler, or outdoor unit.
- A breaker that trips again right after one reset.
- No heat during a hard freeze, when indoor temperatures are dropping toward the point where pipes can freeze.
- No cooling in serious heat with someone at home who handles heat poorly: babies, older adults, people with heart or breathing conditions, or pets that cannot be moved.
What should I do first if I smell gas or my CO alarm goes off?
Get everyone out of the house, including pets, and leave the door open behind you. Do not flip light switches, unplug anything, or use a phone inside, since any of those can make a spark. Once you are outside, call 911 or your gas utility's emergency line. Do not go back in until the fire department or utility says it is safe. Gas lines, burners, and venting are licensed-pro work, never a do-it-yourself job.
Is a dead AC an emergency in Lubbock this time of year?
It depends on who is home and how hot it gets. Lubbock afternoons can still run hot into early fall, and attic ductwork keeps a closed-up house warm into the evening. If anyone vulnerable is at home and the indoor temperature is heading past about 85°F, treat it as urgent and move them somewhere cool while you wait for help.
Before you call, run the safe checks: confirm the thermostat is set to cool and has power, reset a tripped breaker one time only, replace a clogged filter, and look for a condensate safety switch that has shut the system off. Our guide to what to do when the AC goes out in a heat wave walks through each one. If none of those bring it back, it is time for an AC repair visit.
When is no heat an emergency in a Lubbock winter?
South Plains cold snaps can drop overnight lows into the teens. The usual guidance is to keep indoor temperatures at or above about 55°F so pipes in exterior walls do not freeze. If you cannot hold that, it is an emergency. While you wait, open cabinet doors under sinks, let faucets drip, and close off rooms you are not using.
Stay safe while you stay warm. Never use a gas oven or range to heat the house, never run a generator or grill indoors or in an attached garage, and give any space heater at least three feet of clearance from anything that can burn. Our furnace and heating repair page explains how to get connected with a local pro, and if the first heat of the season just smells dusty, read why a furnace smells like burning before you worry.
Not sure if it can wait?One call and we'll connect you with a local Lubbock HVAC pro.
📞 (414) 429-5333What HVAC problems can safely wait until morning?
Plenty of problems are annoying but not dangerous, as long as nobody at home is at risk from the indoor temperature:
- Ice on the indoor coil or refrigerant lines. Switch the system off and run the fan so it thaws, then book a visit.
- A small water leak at the air handler, usually a clogged condensate drain. Put a pan or towels down and shut the system off if water is reaching drywall or wiring.
- One room warmer than the rest or weak airflow.
- New noises with no burning smell. Grinding or banging is a reason to shut it off and call soon, but not a reason to leave the house.
What should I tell the HVAC pro when I call?
A clear description gets the right parts on the truck and a faster fix. Have this ready:
- What the system is doing, when it started, and anything you smelled, heard, or saw.
- What you already checked: thermostat, breaker, filter, and drain switch.
- The rough age of the system, and who is at home.
After-hours availability, scheduling, and pricing are set by the independent company you are connected with, and they vary. If you would rather be called back, use the callback request form.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call for an HVAC emergency in Lubbock?
For a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside first. For no heat, no cooling, or an electrical smell from the system, call Hub City at (414) 429-5333. Hub City is a referral service, not a contractor, and connects Lubbock homeowners with independent local HVAC pros.
Is no air conditioning an emergency?
It is when someone at home is vulnerable to heat, such as an infant, an older adult, or a person with a heart or breathing condition, and the indoor temperature is climbing past about 85 degrees. For a healthy household on a mild day, it can usually wait for the next available appointment.
How cold can my house get before pipes freeze?
There is no single number, because it depends on where pipes run and how cold it is outside. The common guidance is to keep indoor temperatures at or above about 55 degrees during a freeze, open cabinet doors under sinks, and let faucets drip until heat is restored.
Should I keep resetting a breaker that my AC or furnace trips?
No. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call a licensed pro, because a breaker that keeps tripping is protecting you from an electrical fault, a failing motor or compressor, or overheated wiring.