Check the information you can see safely
If there is no gas odor, electrical damage, smoke, or other immediate hazard, look at the normal thermostat display. Note whether it has power, is set to Heat, and is asking for a temperature above the current room temperature. Record any displayed error rather than clearing it.
Carrier includes thermostat power, heating mode, and temperature setting among its initial furnace checks. Carrier troubleshooting guidance.
Note whether other parts of the home still lack power and whether the utility reports restoration complete. You can report a visibly tripped breaker without opening electrical panels or repeatedly resetting it. If the furnace has an ordinary status window, record what is visible through it without removing a door.
Tell the technician whether the furnace is silent, begins then stops, runs a fan without heat, or shows a fault. Do not bypass a switch or jumper thermostat wires to test it.
What the service visit needs to resolve
We recommend checking the furnace's actual power, controls, and startup against its model instructions. Ask the technician to explain where the sequence stops and what test supports the proposed repair.
A part damaged during an outage is possible, but timing alone does not establish it. If a surge-related repair is proposed, ask for the measured finding and whether other faults were ruled out. Keep the service report and receipts if you plan to discuss a claim with an insurer or utility. Do not assume those parties will pay.
Before the visit closes, ask whether normal thermostat operation and a complete heating cycle were verified. If the unit only restarted, ask what caused the interruption and whether that cause is still open.
Make the waiting plan concrete
Tell the service company how cold the home is now, how quickly it is cooling, and who is there. Ask when someone can attend and when you will receive an update if timing changes.
If portable electric heat is part of the plan, CPSC says to use a wall outlet directly, keep three feet from combustible items, and shut heaters off for sleep. Never leave a heater running unattended. CPSC portable-heater safety. CPSC heater guidance. Do not assume one room heater protects pipes elsewhere. If the household cannot stay adequately warm, arrange another place to stay and qualified property-protection advice.
Your next action is to report the heating loss with the outage timing, thermostat information, and safely visible fault, then confirm both the service timing and the household's plan while waiting.