Homeowners must ensure heating systems are ready for winter

Few things are more inconvenient than a main heating system breaking down in winter. Fortunately, there are a number of measures that can be taken to safeguard against this possibility, according to New Jersey's Daily Journal newspaper.

Calling in the professionals to give furnaces and forced-air systems a yearly checkup is a good idea, the paper says. Although there are a number of simple checks and maintenance procedures that can be performed by homeowners themselves, an expert heating system inspection can detect more subtle problems.

Oil heaters can pose specific winter home safety concerns, according to the Daily Journal. Ron Basolis, an HVAC engineer, told the paper "with anyone who heats with oil, it's very important to have the burner tuned up to run at the optimum efficiency." A maintenance visit to a house with oil heat typically involves a filter change and a check of the system's electrodes, Basolis added.

Regardless of the type of heating a home uses, experts warn that homeowners need to make absolutely sure they are prepared for the onset of winter.