Ok. My first house and first time dealing with this issue. My furnace seems like it is on all the time and my hydro meeter seems to be going crazy. The thermostat keeps telling me to call service, then it flashes System on +2. I have no idea what to do. There were no books left for us when we got the home. If someone could advise me on what to do I would be very thankful. I have already changed the filter and that didn't work.

Any idea of the thermostat model? Can you post any pictures of the front/back using go advanced/manage attachments?

Is it possible that you have a heat pump with electric backup and the heat pump failed and your now using backup heat? This would explain the spike in the electric meter. Your in Canada, right?

Did the outside unit ever run when the system was heating?

The thermostat model is White Rodgers. I am going to post a picture of the thermostat. It possible I have a heat pump. Very stupid question coming. What is that and where would I find it? We are in Canada, Ontario to be exact. The unit outside does turn on when the heat is on.

Pictures of my thermostat and furnace

I was just reading about my problem online. Can anyone tell me where to find the coils on this furnace?

I don't have a good answer because, I think the thermostat is a version of this: http://www.white-rodgers.com/wrdhom/.../0037-6753.pdf

1F75-1277; Emerson is White-Rodgers

Meanwhile, I'll keep thinking.

To get a real model #, you would probably have to cut power to the inside unit and pop the thermostat off it's base.

I'd try the Homeowner help phone number at the bottom of the page.

So, if the outside unit is running ALL the time and the outside temperature is below 32 F, 0 C, then your electric elements could have failed.

I'll also put you here: HowStuffWorks "How Heat Pumps Work"

Heat pumps don't raise the temperature very fast and they don't work at a specific outdoor temp, typically near freezing.
There is a temperature unique to your house/climate that essentially says that the heat loss of your house is equal to what the heat pump is putting out. We will call this the balance point.

So, below the balance point, only the heat pump runs. Between the balance point and the compressor lockout point (around freezing or slightly above) the heatpump and the electric heat are both running. Below the compressor lockout point, only the resistance heat runs (the outdoor unit is off)

Since, I con't figure out what +2, call service means, you can:

1. Call white rodgers, with I think I have a HP and a thermostat with the white rodgers logo that looks similar to 1f95-1277 except the screen isn't blue and it's labeled on the front as white rodgers.

Or

2.
2a Turn off the HP with the breaker or emergency switch
2b. Pop the thermostat from it's base
2c. Lock for a model #
2e. Put it back
2f. Turn on power
2g. Make sure it does it again
2h. Call white rodgers with the model # of the thermostat, and HP (outside unit) and air handler.