When temperatures drop in Texas, it's nice to have a heating system available to keep you and your family warm. Heating and cooling systems are both popular features in homes all across Texas, but constant use can take its toll, eventually leaving you with a machine that stops working. Before you call a professional and pay for repairs, though, consider the following issues you can probably handle on your own.

Both heating and cooling systems need some kind of power source, of course, so let's start there. Sometimes, it could simply be that the "power" button on your unit was bumped. You may also have blown a fuse at some point or your home's furnace could be off for some reason (most feature an emergency "off" switch that looks like the typical kind you'd use for a light and thus is easy to hit by accident). If you have solar panels sending power to your heating system, you'll want to check in on that, too. Basically, cover all your bases where power is concerned before calling professionals.

Next, if you have your heating and cooling coming from the same system, be sure it's configured to be providing the former. Systems that handle both can sometimes be mistakenly shifted to provide AC.

Check the thermostat on your machine too. If the thermostat isn't set up correctly, it might be that your machine won't be switching on the heat until the temperature in your home hits an especially low number. This will definitely make it appear as though your machine is broken.

Along the same lines, your thermostat should be nearby the controls for your furnace fan. If you turn it to "on" and don't hear your furnace come to life, there's a situation with the power there.

One more note about your boiler. If you check on all of the above and you still don't feel any heat coming out of your vents, there is most likely something wrong with your furnace. Should you have an old model that relies on a pilot light, check to make sure it's lit. Otherwise, it could simply be out of fuel, which isn't much of a problem so long as you have more on hand.

Heating and cooling systems are intricate machines, but that doesn't mean they always take a professional to figure out. If your home isn't getting the heat you need to stay comfortable, troubleshoot with the above list before spending money on a professional.