Your heater is your best resource on days when it starts getting chilly outside. You should have your heater serviced once a year by an HVAC service in order to head off any needed repairs before they became costly and damaging. You do not want to wait on repairs for your heater. The longer you wait, the more expensive and serious the repairs get over time. You do not want to sacrifice having a warm, cozy home in order to save a few bucks in the short term. It is better to get everything taken care of. Here are three reasons you can't afford to sit on heater repairs.

Your energy bill can to go through the roof.

A malfunctioning heater is an energy vampire. It requires much more energy to put out the amount of heat air that you demand when you crank your thermostat. Keep an eye on your energy bill. An upward trend in cost while running your heater is a clue that your heater is not functioning well. You do not want to pay money that you do not have to. Make sure that you are tracking trends and make an appointment for repairs as necessary.

A broken heater can give off toxic carbon monoxide. 

Keep an eye on your pilot light. Your pilot light should be a steady flame of yellow wreathed in blue. A sputtering yellow flame is a sign of trouble. It can indicate a blocked flue or an imbalance of chemicals. An unsteady pilot light can also indicate that your heater is giving off toxic carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless, and therefore hard to detect. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, and nausea. The elderly and young children are especially vulnerable.

Dirty ducts circulate allergens throughout your home. 

Your heater functions by circulating warm air through a system of vents and ducts. Cleaning your air filter periodically is especially important. It keeps dirt, dust, and other grime out of your vents. If your air filter fails, then dirt accumulates in your vents. You may notice that you are sneezing and your eyes are watering more, especially when you run your heater. You do not want to deal with allergens every time that you run your heater. You may have to have your ducts cleaned periodically. You should also look into alternative brands for the best air filter.