Experts urge furnace maintenance as winter approaches

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Another warmup is on the way, so you may still be putting off checking your furnace. Experts advise — don't put it off.

We spent some time today with Beau Rickman. He's the service manager for "DR Mechanical" out of Webb City.

He told us residents who have gas furnaces need to have them checked for cracked heat exchangers -- something that can result in a home filling up with carbon monoxide.

Also, it's important to have a carbon monoxide detector.

"Lot of people don't have that option. They use radiant heaters or space heaters. Well, if you're using a radiant heater or space heater, you do not want to use like your generic drop cords or extension cords, 'cause that pulls too many amps and can cause a fire hazard," said Beau Rickman, DR Mechanical service manager.

A couple of other tips.

Filters need to be changed every couple of months, and make sure space heaters have at least eight feet of clearance in front of them.