{"id":1665,"date":"2023-02-06T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fulmerheatcool.com\/blog\/?p=1665"},"modified":"2023-02-03T15:55:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T20:55:29","slug":"groundhog-day-and-heater-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fulmerheatcool.com\/blog\/heating-service\/groundhog-day-and-heater-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Groundhog Day and Heater Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"cartoon-image-of-groundhog-holding-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 weather much to the disappointment of people everywhere. But have you ever wondered just how accurate Phil\u2019s ability to tell the future is? Can a groundhog in Pennsylvania really have an effect on your heating in Columbia, SC?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a fun look at just how accurate Phil\u2019s ability to predict the weather is. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Groundhog Day: An American Tradition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the German immigrants that settled in Pennsylvania in the 1800s, we now have one of the most unusual US holidays that even inspired a hit movie. According to German folklore, if the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day there would be 6 more weeks of winter. Since hedgehogs weren\u2019t as plentiful in the United States, the groundhog was chosen since it\u2019s also a species that hibernates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very first Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. To this day, ceremonies are held all over the United States and even in Canada. The most famous celebration is the one that\u2019s held at Gobbler\u2019s Knob and the star of the show is Punxsutawney Phil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Accurate Are Phil’s Predictions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club maintains that Phil’s predictions have been accurate, other sources have disputed their claims. In fact, numerous reputable sources such as the NOAA have shown that only 39% of Phil\u2019s predictions are correct. It\u2019s a good thing for Phil that he\u2019s so cute! It is also a good thing that most people don’t really rely on this furry critter to tell them what to expect from the weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Groundhog Day and Heater Maintenance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a fact about Groundhog Day that you can count on to tell you something about how long you might need to rely on your heating system. Groundhog Day occurs about halfway between the December solstice and the March equinox. That means there are potentially two months left in the heating season, even for South Carolina. That means if you haven\u2019t had heater maintenance in the last year, now\u2019s still a great time to do so.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heater Maintenance: Facts and Myths<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a myth that heater maintenance has to be done before the heating season even starts. That\u2019s just not the case! Your heater will benefit from maintenance even if it\u2019s halfway through the heating season. Here are some perks of this service to keep in mind when it comes to mid-season heater maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n