So, did you watch with fascination as your favorite groundhog made the forecast for an early spring? The logical question is, “Why do we pay so much attention to a squirrel?” That’s right, the groundhog is the largest member of the squirrel family. You might want to keep that little “knowledge nut” (see what we did there) in mind when looking at Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of an early spring, which has been right 47% of the time.
Merts Heating and Air Conditioning wants to remind you about the really important takeaway from Groundhog Day: It doesn’t matter whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not on Groundhog Day, this is the time of year when you must be prepared for more winter cold AND a possible early arrival of spring.
Over the next few weeks we can see it all, meteorologically speaking. The Midwest is famous for later winter and early spring blizzards. Or it could be an ice storm rolling across the Great Plains into the Great Lakes with widespread power outages. We could even see an unusually strong early season tropical air flow coming up from the Gulf of Mexico slamming head-on into a cold front, resulting in an outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes. No matter what the groundhog says, you can depend on Merts to ensure your safety and comfort.
If you didn’t have a heating system tune-up before the start of winter and haven’t had any problems, count yourself among the lucky ones. But if you’ve had any trouble keeping your house warm in the last couple months, it makes a lot more sense to call us now, rather than having to make an emergency call during a late season cold snap or winter storm. Additionally, there’s really no reason to wait until that unexpectedly hot day in April to find out your air conditioning is on the fritz. Have our expert technicians check out the AC right now to make sure it’s ready to go.
You can also protect yourself against spring power outages with a new state-of-the-art Briggs and Stratton generator from Merts. A backup generator can literally be a lifesaver for the sick, elderly, and very young. That’s doubly true if there are people in the home who require medical equipment that uses electricity. Merts also reminds you a generator should always be installed by a licensed electrician to prevent injury or even death.
Please call Merts Heating & Air Conditioning for all your residential HVAC service and repair needs. But you need to do your part. Remember the boy scout motto: Be prepared. So even if you don’t believe in the meaning of Groundhog Day, you need to be ready for whatever the late winter and early spring brings. Make sure you have a plan in place that includes an emergency kit with a portable radio, extra batteries, candles and flashlights. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more great information throughout the year.