{"id":1376,"date":"2023-02-06T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.margoplumbing.com\/blog\/?p=1376"},"modified":"2023-02-08T11:42:09","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T16:42:09","slug":"what-groundhog-day-can-tell-us-about-heater-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.margoplumbing.com\/blog\/heating-service\/what-groundhog-day-can-tell-us-about-heater-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"What Groundhog Day Can Tell Us About Heater Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"cartoon-image-of-groundhog-holding-a-thermometer\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

On Groundhog Day this year, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. That means we\u2019re supposed to get 6 more weeks of winter, much to the chagrin of people in the northeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before you get too disappointed, just how accurate are Phil\u2019s \u201cpredictions?\u201d Can a groundhog in Pennsylvania really affect your heating in Montclair, NJ<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at just how accurate Phil\u2019s prognostications are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you shouldn\u2019t decide on whether to get heater maintenance based on whether a groundhog sees his shadow, we\u2019ll also discuss the many benefits of heater maintenance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Groundhog Day in a Nutshell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Groundhog Day stems from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition and ceremonies are held all over Canada and the US. The most famous and highly attended ceremony is obviously in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and the star of the show is the beloved groundhog, Phil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tradition states that if Phil sees his shadow (in other words, if it\u2019s sunny that day), it means six more weeks of winter. If he doesn\u2019t see his shadow, supposedly spring will come early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just How Accurate Are Phil\u2019s Predictions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Groundhog Day has been celebrated and recorded since 1887! Since then,\u00a0the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has held firm to their belief that Phil’s predictions have been accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, other sources have confirmed that Phil\u2019s not that great at predicting future weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that only 39% of Phil\u2019s prognostications are accurate. It\u2019s a good thing he\u2019s so cute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can Groundhog Day Tell Us About Heater Maintenance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a fact about Groundhog Day that you can count on to tell you something about your heating system. Groundhog Day falls about halfway between the December solstice and the March equinox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or in the world of HVAC, about halfway through the heating season. That means if you haven\u2019t had heating system maintenance in the last year, there\u2019s no time like the present to get it done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Heater Maintenance Myth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people believe that heater maintenance has to occur before the heating season even starts. Although that\u2019s the ideal time to do it, your heater will benefit from maintenance at any time during the heating season. This is especially true if you haven\u2019t had your heater maintained in a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heater Maintenance Facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the many benefits of mid-season heater maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n