MAPLE GROVE, Minn — Furnace technicians say the colder it gets, the harder our furnaces have to work to keep our homes warm.
This is the time when a lot of the smaller issues in your furnace can turn into big problems.
"Usually what will happen is you'll notice your temperature not keeping up,” Dean’s Home Services HVAC install manager Chris Uttke says.
It's a classic warning sign that something is wrong with your furnace.
The thermostat might be set to 70 degrees, but the furnace can't quite get you there.
Uttke says more often than not, it's a dirty air filter.
"It will cause problems in your furnace. It's one of our No. 1 calls, is to come out because the filter is dirty and it's overheating the furnace,” Uttke says.
If you switch out the filter and the furnace is still having problems, Uttke says older furnaces will have a blinking light. You can count the blinks and it will tell you what's wrong.
Uttke added newer furnaces will show you an error code.
"The board will have a number displayed on it if there's a problem,” Uttke explains.
Sometimes the fix is easy, but often times you'll need a technician to come and fix it.
If that happens, the state does have a program for low-income households to help pay the bill.
"We've already had over a thousand households in Minnesota who've gotten emergency service repair,” Minnesota Department of Commerce spokesperson Mo Schriner says.
Low-income households can also apply for cold weather protection so their heat doesn't get shut off.
"The consumer protections you have are not automatic. If you want what we call Minnesota's ‘cold weather rule protection,’ you've gotta call your utility company,” Schriner explains.
And if you're going to be away from home for a few days during the holidays, technicians recommend turning down your thermostat 3 to 4degrees to save on energy.
If you go lower than that, it could actually cost you more money to heat up your home again.
"Just because, when you have a high-temperature difference outside, it takes a while to catch back up,” Uttke says.
Having a furnace go out while you're away from home can be a big problem.
Uttke says in some cases, a furnace that goes out can lead to frozen pipes and water in your home.
One or two days without heat usually isn't enough to cause frozen pipes and massive amounts of damage to your home.
Uttke says usually it takes several days to cause that much damage.
"It really depends on how cold it is," Uttke says.
For homeowners who are worried about frozen pipes and other damage, Uttke recommends a smart thermostat you can access from your phone.
That way you can check your home's temperature by simply opening an app.
For more information on Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program click here.
To learn more about the various programs available to homeowners and renters click here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist: