Thermostat: a thermostat that is not in good repair will cost you a lot, and make it hard to get your home at the temperature you want it to be. Your pocket book and comfort will improve if you check your thermostat regularly, and make sure it is not even one degree off. If it is, you should try cleaning it. The best way to do that is take off the faceplate, blow away any dust that might be messing with it. You can also clean the contact points, and coils. The best way to clean these is with a soft toothbrush. If that doesn't work, use a new dollar bill. If you want your thermostat to read accurately, make sure the screws are tight, and that they are completely straight. If the thermostat is not functioning properly once you do these things, it may need to be replaced in full.

Filters: The filter of your furnace does more than just clean the air, it helps keep the furnace running at its optimal level. Change monthly when AC or Furnace is being run regularly. If it isn't being changed regularly, it can clog, it can overload the furnace, and make it work much harder than it should. When you change the filter, make sure you get the door back on properly, otherwise the furnace is not going to work, it may not even turn on.

Repairs: If your furnace has a problem, you should have it repaired, but make sure you choose a certified and technically efficient repairman. If you choose someone that does not know their stuff very well, it could end up costing you more, and damaging your furnace more.

Yearly professional maintenance: One of the things that will help you keep your furnace in good repair is just having it professionally looked over once a year. The fact of the matter is, just like a person should get a yearly checkup with the doctor to ensure that their body is functioning properly, a furnace should be looked over yearly to catch any problems before they become expensive, difficult problems to deal with.

If you do these things, and make sure you don't just ignore the furnace because it is behind a closet door, and only gets looked at if it has a problem, it will be something you can count on. That way, every time you fire it up you know that your home will heat as a result, and you won't be stuck freezing your buns off as you wait for a repair man.