As summer temperatures give way to fall's first chill, homeowners across the Sioux Empire can take steps now to avoid one of winter's most common problems: furnace failure.

“Usually when our phone rings, someone is having a bad day, and they're looking for help,” says Bob Kriese, partner and service manager at Waterbury Heating and Cooling.

For the past 76 years, Waterbury Heating and Cooling has helped area residents stay warm. What began as a furnace installation and service company has grown into a full-service heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical company, one that responds when emergencies strike.

“If you find yourself in a no-heat situation on a cold winter day, you will go into panic mode,” adds Gary Black, partner and sales manager. “You and your family will be uncomfortable, and now you have to get creative in keeping your home warm with space heaters, fireplaces and maybe even an electric oven while you call and try to get a company out to the home for a repair or a replacement.”

“Bad things can happen to homes that lose heat for long periods of time such as frozen pipes and water damage that can cause thousands of dollars to repair,” Gary adds.

A more serious concern over being cold is a furnace malfunctioning and putting carbon monoxide into the air stream. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and is hard to detect without a carbon monoxide detector and alarm. According to Gary, “every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector in the home, and it doesn't matter if the equipment is well maintained or new, all mechanical equipment can have issues at some point. Protect the most important thing in your home, YOUR FAMILY and install at least one if not two carbon monoxide detectors in your home. If an appliance like a gas furnace or water heater has a mechanical failure in the middle of the night the detectors will alarm you and your family to get out and get fresh air.”

“If the equipment malfunctions in the middle of the night when people are sleeping the results could be tragic! People die every year in the United States. That's why carbon monoxide detectors are essential in every home, regardless of the age of the equipment,” Gary notes.

It's also why routine maintenance isn't just about lowering your utility bills.

“We're making sure boilers and furnaces are operating safely, while you get the benefit of improved efficiency from having the boiler or furnace serviced,” explains Bob. “All those checks are done to make sure there aren't any worn-down components that could lead to safety issues.”

During a maintenance visit, technicians clean burners and condensate traps, check flame sensors and igniters, test blower and combustion blowers, tighten electrical connections, inspect safety switches, check for proper combustion, and check intakes and exhaust.

“The technician will give them some idea of what they can anticipate for life left on the equipment,” Bob adds. “Then they can start thinking about replacement if that is something coming sooner rather than later.”

Preventative maintenance reduces the chances of breakdown during the coldest days and busiest times of the year for heating and cooling companies and makes the equipment operate more efficiently and last longer.

Between professional visits, Bob and Gary agree that homeowners can do their part to keep their heating systems running properly: keeping the area around the furnace and boilers clear and uncluttered and replacing air filters regularly to reduce strain on the system and improve indoor air quality.

“You should also keep every heating register open throughout the house,” Gary says. “Homeowners are not saving money by closing off registers. It's actually hard on the structure and equipment.”

“Pay attention to unusual noises, frequent on-and-off cycling, or a furnace struggling to start,” Bob adds. “Small warning signs often signal a larger problem developing.”

“Waterbury does offer annual maintenance agreement options to allow homeowners to be proactive and eliminate the small issues before they become larger issues that shut the system down. They also offer after hour and weekend service for those homeowners who find themselves in a no heat situation,” Gary explains.

“We feel like it's part of our mission to take care of our customers and create a relationship with them,” Bob explains. “Our motto is 'Waterbury, we are service,' and we continue to stand by that today.”