By Tim Kowols

Making sure your furnace is prepared for extreme cold snaps is important to the unit’s lifespan according to Ultimate Air owner Jeff Blemke. According to American home services Web site AngiesList.com, 75 percent of no heat calls in the winter can be attributed to a lack of maintenance. Yearly inspections can also spot signs of problems like possible carbon monoxide leaks. Blemke says something as simple as the furnace’s filter could be the difference between a warm house and a frigid one.

During periods of extreme cold, Blemke recommends people keep a consistent temperature with their thermostat rather than programming heat for certain parts of the day. The constant powering up and down could add additional stress to the unit.