Advice for homeowners in the cold temperatures of winter

When temperatures drop this low, it's easy for a homeowner to over use their home's heating system, says Domenic Cortese, president and CEO of Cortese Construction Service Co.  

"We're seeing furnace issues right now where systems are failing and now people are suffering through adverse cold conditions," he says.

Even now, when really cold outside, it's not a bad time to have the system checked, he says.

Cortese is also the host of the Home Improvement Hour Saturday mornings on WBEN.

It's also a chance for homeowners to check for possible sources of something that could lead to frozen pipes.

"Checking for drafts, even now, is a good thing to do and then calking and sealing them. Weather stripping doors and windows would be an effective way to combat the cold," Cortese says.

Cortese also suggests checking the home's attic, which he says is the primary location for heat loss in a home.