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QUINCY, ILL. -- Early winter like weather has furnaces working hard, and that's keeping repairmen like Bill Boren with Peter's Heating and Air busy.

"We're pretty busy this time of year...I check on 8 to 10 homes a day, sometimes more," said Boren.

But before you give guys like Boren a call, there are some things you can do to keep your furnace in tip top shape.

"Sometimes they can check the fuse, if there's one on the side of the furnace, maybe check the circuit breaker."

You'll also want to check your filter. Dirty filters and lack of maintenance are the common problems that cause your furnace to break down. Boren recommends you change your filter every 30 days and have it inspected at least once a year.

Q: Why's that important to do? "The more air you can get through your furnace, the more it works, the better it works."

A good indication your filter needs to be changed is if its color turns brown or black or has a lot of fuzz. Following these tips can help your furnace last a long time, and keep you warm.

We also asked Boren about ways to save on your heating bill. If you have an old home, he recommends getting storm windows or installing new ones. He also says if your furnace is old, you may want to consider getting a new one.