You may soon be considering turning on your furnace for the first time this season.

Mark Sullivan has been fixing furnaces for 25 years with the Geisler Brothers Company in Dubuque. He said the company is gearing up for the cold, winter months.

"The first real snap of the cold is when everyone calls and the lists just starts to pile up rather quickly," said Sullivan.

As the cold weather is approaching, Sullivan said he has some tips for homeowners before they turn on their furnace for the first time this season.

He recommends homeowners make sure your filters are clean and make sure to replace them every couple of months. Sullivan said if you have smaller furnace filters, he recommends replacing them every month. He said those who have larger and thicker furnace filters can get by with replacing them at least twice a year.

Sullivan also recommends homeowners make sure furnace pipes are not blocked by any leaves of snow.

"If they have a 90 percent efficiency furnaces make sure those pipes are not being blocked by piles of leaves, snow during the winter, and things that may have gotten shifted during the summer months," said Sullivan.

He also recommends you have your furnace looked at by a professional at least once a year.

Carbon Monoxide poisoning can also be caused by a carbon monoxide leak in a gas appliance, Sullivan recommends all homeowners have a carbon monoxide detector and get your gas appliances checked as soon as possible if you believe your home has carbon monoxide poisoning.

"If you're waking up with headaches from morning to morning that go away when you leave, by all means have someone come and check out your gas appliances," said Sullivan.