When people get cold for the first time in the fall they click the thermostat to "heat" and on comes the beast. This is risky business as natural gas furnaces can malfunction and kill you several ways, said Tim Smith, owner of Triad Service Company and president of the Green Country Chapter of Air Conditioning Contractors of America. 

Have your gas furnace inspected by a state licensed heating and air contractor. Smith said, "Have the gas pressure checked, burners and heat exchanger cleaned and inspected for cracks, clean or replace filters and check the wiring and controls. 

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The new residential boiler efficiency standards just went into effect in September, with gas-fired hot water boilers now having to be a minimum of 82 percent AFUE. Other changes required with this slight increase in efficiency is the elimination of a standing pilot, as well as an automatic means to adjust the temperature of the water based on the demand load (often accomplished through the use of an outdoor air reset control).

Many in the industry are welcoming these modifications, noting that sales of higher efficiency boilers have been trending up, so homeowners are already expressing interest in better efficiency. In addition, the changes are small enough that they should not result in large price increases that could cause sticker shock for consumers. And any change in price, noted manufacturers, should be more than offset by decreased operating costs for consumers.