Most homeowners look forward to the cooler months of the year after a scorching summer. You will have to use your heating system at some point, and that’s when things will get heated up. Here are some tips to follow before turning on your heater for the new season. Turn on your pilot light. Since your heating system hasn’t been running for a while, your pilot light may need to be re-lit. If you don’t know how to do this yourself or want to have your system checked at the same time, call a qualified technician. Make sure you hire a qualified technician. If you want your heating system to run efficiently and effectively for as long as possible, it must be serviced regularly. A qualified technician should inspect the system once a year to ensure this is happening. Replace or clean the air filter. As your system’s air filter gets dirty, it won’t run and before, and releasing contaminants into your home. This can be prevented by cleaning or replacing the air filter every 1-3 months, depending on how quickly it clogs. Make the switch to a better thermostat. Programmable thermostats allow you to control the days and times when your HVAC system operates. Manual thermostats are a thing of the past. Wi-fi connectivity and weather updates are also available on many of these. Make sure your alarms are working. There should be at least one carbon monoxide alarm per story in your home, and multiple smoke alarms. Each one can be tested by pressing a small button on the front and batteries can be replaced if necessary.