HOUSTON (KTRK) -- You are supposed to get your heater checked once a year. If you've not yet done that and the heater leaves you cold, your desperation could cloud your judgment.
Cold weather is coming and Mark Barbaric wants the heater in his house to be ready so he's having it checked how.
"Doing right now is definitely a good idea before everyone else starts turning on the heat," he said.
With lows in the 40's coming to Houston, homeowners across the city will be turning on the heater. Many of them for the first time in months.
And for some, warm air will not greet them and that's when an annual check up is important.
"I'm making sure the flue pipe is not clogged with dirt daubers and then I am going to check the heat exchanger," said Matt Duhon with Weeks Servicing Company.
Duhon is making sure Barbaric's heater works when it's needed. He says the most common reason a heater leaves you cold is a dirty flame sensor.
"What the heater will do is come on, the flame will come on and then shortly after shortly after will turn off," he said.
Most repairing the sensor should not run more $200. Duhon says because families are often desperate to get a broken heater running they often agree to expensive and occasionally unneeded repairs.
His advice? If a repairman says the fix will be hundreds or even thousands of dollars, get a second opinion before agreeing to anything.
"If you are not feeling comfortable I would definitely call for a free second opinion," Duhon said.
If you are using a space heater, check out these safety tips first.