Winter's getting closer and it's time to prepare your furnace for the cold months ahead. Portage la Prairie's Cobbe's Plumbing and Heating general manager Andy Taylor has a list of tips to keep in mind for a general cleaning and service of your system.

"Have somebody come in and clean and service the furnace. Check your venting, your furnace vents, and your duct work. Make sure nothing's blocked. Check your return airs, to ensure nothing's blocked. And during the winter change your filter. Pleated filters are the best. Not of all the older ones can take it, but we're putting those in the new ones. They are far better than the dust stops."

He says you should be aware of provincial regulations.

"High efficiency furnaces are mandatory in Manitoba for housing now. When you change one out, you can't put in a mid-efficient furnace anymore. There's not a lot of new stuff. You can still get electric furnaces and geothermal furnaces."

Aside from your furnace, Taylor notes another concern.

"Check the hot water tank, and check the venting on the hot water tank. Just a general clean and service before the winter comes."

Some service companies offer means of applying sticky material to the inside of your duct work to catch dust, but Taylor notes the best measure is to simply install a good pleated filter.