Your heating system should be maintained just like you maintain a fuel-burning car. A regular heating system tune-up can cut operating costs, reduce breakdowns, and extend the life of the system. If you have a system that uses natural gas or propane, it should be serviced every year or so by a professional. Heat pumps need to be serviced every one to three years, and oil burners need an annual cleaning and tune-up. Having a regular visit from a service person not only keeps your energy bills lower, you save by extending the life of your system. It will operate more safely and will give off fewer pollutants.