You can do a lot yourself now to help avoid an emergency call for heating system service this coming winter. Inspect your filters and humidifier pads, which may need cleaning or replacement. Test your smoke and CO alarms, putting in new batteries just for peace of mind. Check that you have no flammables near your furnace. Be sure that thermostats and humidistats are set and working properly.

Look for rust, corrosion and leaks around your heating plant and especially at connections and joints with pipes, valves and ducts. And, if you have any ceiling fans, remember that the blades may need adjusting for winter.

You also may want a qualified professional to do an even more-thorough check up by looking at other things – such as

blower motors and fans that may need lubrication or worn belts that need replacement or tightening, plus pilot lights that should be adjusted and limit controls that should be checked. And gas and water valves to be exercised.

And then there’s your distribution system, the pipes or ducts that move heat all through your home. Radiator valves as well as duct vanes and air registers probably need cleaning and adjusting. Indeed, there’s a lot you can do yourself to head off surprises and more that is best done by professionals. Check with your community contractors to see what they might offer in the way of special pricing for pre-season maintenance services before the inevitable rush that always develops once serious cold weather hits us. See PAMCANI's listings of local professional contractors.