After a relatively mild holiday week, a cool-down is on the way as we head into the new year. Ross Corson with CenterPoint Energy says if you haven’t had your furnace inspected and tuned-up yet, now is the time. “If you didn’t do it in the fall before the heating season started, it’s never too late to do it. You don’t want that furnace to go out in the middle of winter,” he says. “Also make sure you check your furnace filter monthly and clean or replace it as needed. That’s very important for its efficiency.”
Corson says also make sure natural gas appliances are showing a blue flame. Unless it’s a gas fireplace, a yellow flame could mean the appliance or air ducts are not functioning properly.
And Corson suggests asking Santa for a late Christmas gift — a programmable thermostat which can reduce energy costs.