With winter approaching, you shouldn't overlook one thing - the furnace. Service technician Curt Moreland says it's important for homeowners to get their furnaces checked, especially the older ones.

"That's the main thing with old ones. You want them safe and you want them checked," says Moreland. "And if you keep them clean they are going to run the best that they can run. And that's the bottom line with the old ones."

Checking for gas leaks, monitoring the thermostat, and installing protective piping and insulation are just a few of the ways to help cut back on high gas bills this winter.

Central Missouri Community Action is helping local residents with this issue by providing tips and tools for local residents. If you go by the center and sign up for the weatherization program, you'll get a free weatherization kit to help preserve heat in your home. The kit includes foam pipe covers and weather seals.

"By helping those families get out of poverty and find ways to save money, put income back in their pockets, it will help in the future with meeting those needs," said Adam Tipton, Boone County Supervisor for CMCA.

Central Missouri Community Action also provides free home audits to detect any cracks or energy waste.