tamatoledonews.com (SPECIAL) – Maintaining your heating equipment will help keep it operating efficiently and keep your energy bills low. No matter what the age of your furnace, an annual checkup by a service technician is also a good idea, especially if you have a natural gas system. The technician will check the flues and temperature settings, examine the heat exchanger for cracks and check the safety mechanisms.

A $50 – $100 annual clean and tune can reduce your heating costs by ten percent – and it’s the best prevention against deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Iowa customers may also qualify for a cash reward up to $30 for professional maintenance of their natural gas furnace.

Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, is committed to providing our media partners with up-to-date and useful information about natural gas. Our goal is to provide you with monthly information that will help you inform your readers, viewers and listeners about natural gas prices.

Each month through April 2011, the Natural Gas Update will provide you with the latest details about natural gas prices and new ways we’re working to help our customers reduce their heating costs