When the snowy winter months come rolling around, it can get pretty chilly inside without the comfort of a heater. Because your heater works hard to keep you warm, all the wear and tear can result in the need for repairs just when you need it to perform the most. Luckily, there are some easy steps you can take to keep your heating system in good shape and minimize your need for heating repair:

Minimize Wear and Tear

You can minimize the wear and tear your heater is put through during winter by implementing a few do-it-yourself projects and incorporating handy accessories into your home that will help protect its interior from the cold exterior weather naturally, so your air conditioner doesn't have to work so hard. Consider trying a few of these effective ideas:

• Add some extra insulation to your home by sealing the door and window frames with caulking or spray foam insulation once or twice a year. A well sealed home can save you money on energy costs by lessening your need for the heater, and will help to dampen exterior noise pollution as well as prevent insects and allergens from getting indoors.
• Plant a few deciduous trees in the yard near windows that tend to get direct sunlight during the day. Trees that are deciduous lose their leaves during the winter so the sun can naturally warm your home up, and they'll keep your home cool during the summer thanks to their seasonal lush leaves. Trees can raise your property value by up to 20 percent too!
• Install insulation window film on each window pane to help maintain warm temperatures indoors as well as relieve heater wear and tear. Insulation film also blocks up to 99 percent of harmful UV rays, and protects floors and furniture from fading.

When combined, these techniques can save you a noticeable amount of money on your monthly energy bills all year long. You should find that it's easier to keep your thermostat at a more consistent level no matter what season it happens to be.

Maximize Performance

Even though it may be easy to reduce wear and tear on your heater, you'll still need to count on it to work hard for you when it is considerably cold outside. Taking steps to maximize your heater's performance while it's in use will ensure that it doesn't have to work long to get temperatures warm inside, so you can give it a break throughout the day without sacrificing comfortable indoor temperatures. Here are a few things you can do to make sure that your heater works optimally all winter:

• Clean your heater's air filters right before the winter season by using a damp cloth to gently wipe their surface. If they're really dirty, dip the filters in soapy water before wiping them down. This gets rid of dust and grime that has built up throughout the year, which will keep allergens from circulating in your home's air. If you find any holes or rips, replace the filters with new ones that you can get from the home improvement store or your HVAC service provider.
• Have your heating system inspected by a professional from a site like http://www.avisac.com a few weeks before winter to make sure that everything is properly working. Your technician will be able to spot various problems that might be present and fix them before they become too serious. They'll also do some maintenance such as clean the condenser coils, and tighten all the connections.

As you can see, it doesn't have to take a lot of time, money, or effort to maintain your heating system and ensure proper performance for many winters to come.