BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WSMV) – This week’s taste of winter weather will have many people turning on their heat for the first time this season.

Heating experts advise you to prepare your home now to avoid any breakdowns when the cold weather arrives.

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Luke Henderson, a technician at Hiller HVAC, said they have been very busy with routine maintenance calls to check the systems.

He saw many electrical problems related to last winter’s extreme cold and said a heater left without use for months could shock the system when it was suddenly asked to work hard.

“Especially when it’s really cold outside, the systems are pushed to their limits,” Henderson said. “Some systems can handle it, some can’t. There are so many components inside these systems that can fail, so when systems are pushed to their limits, you really don’t know what will happen.

Henderson said dust and dirt are the main causes of heater motor destruction. It is therefore important to change the air filters every three months and to have the system checked by a professional at least once a year.

He also recommends setting the thermostat between 65 and 70 so the heater doesn’t have to work overtime to catch up at night when it’s much colder.

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