Don't Freeze, Check Furnace Now

PEORIA - As we get further into the fall season, the temperatures will drop and many of us will turn on our heat, but sometimes your furnace will let you down.

  So, consumer advocates say now is the time to make sure yours is good and ready to keep you warm.

"You want to take a look at your furnace now before it gets too cold and it gets too late. You don't want to have something go wrong overnight and you be stuck in the cold. So, you need to take a look at what you've got and take a look at what you might need," says Jessica Tharp of the Better Business Bureau.

If you do discover a problem, the good news is that many companies are a little less busy this time of year, so there's a good chance they'll get to your home a little sooner.

You may also find that your repair or equipment replacement is cheaper right now, as prices tend to go up as demand goes up during the colder months.