LOCAL

Here's why it will cost more to heat your home this winter

Jim Hook
Chambersburg Public Opinion
Energy prices are increasing, so it's a good idea to turn to layers instead of jacking up the thermostat when it's cold.

Americans are expected to spend more to heat their homes this winter.

While the season may not be much colder than last winter, energy prices are increasing, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A family heating with electricity can expect to pay $36 more, those using heating oil $269 more and those burning natural gas $30 more. Families heating with propane will pay about the same as last winter.

You still have a couple of weeks to comfortably winterize your home.

Temperatures won’t hit the teens until late December or early January, according to Accuweather’s extended outlook. The freeze won’t seize the region until February and March.

“New York City and Philadelphia may wind up 4 to 8 degrees colder this February compared to last February,” AccuWeather Expert Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.

More:Whitetail is already preparing for next winter with $1.6 million in improvements

More:Mountainous U.S. 30 at Franklin-Fulton line will be less slippery this winter

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a warm, wet winter for the region.

The federal Climate Prediction Center forecasts a winter with near normal temperatures and slightly higher precipitation. 

Last winter -- on average -- was slightly warmer than normal, according to the center. But, it was a rollercoaster ride:

  • The 11th coldest March on record in Shippensburg followed the 10th warmest February, according to Tim Hawkins, geography and earth science professor at Shippensburg University.
  • January started with a minus-1 record low in Shippensburg and hit a record high of 70 degrees on Jan. 12. The demand for electricity and natural gas hit near-record highs in early January.

In short, you can have some really cold days in a warm winter.

Prepare now for cold weather  

Utilities and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission offer the following tips to prepare for winter:

  • Eliminate drafts with weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows. Air leaks can be responsible for 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling.
  • Efficient humidifiers can help you save money on energy in winter. The air is normally dry inside your house. To be comfortable in dry air, people typically require a higher temperature than they would in a humid environment.  
  • Use kitchen and bath exhaust fans sparingly in the winter to keep as much heat as possible inside your house.
  • Make sure your furnace is inspected and operating properly.
  • Change or clean the furnace filters to maximize air flow efficiency.
  • Check or install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.
  • Chimneys need to be cleaned frequently and inspected for cracks and obstructions. Creosote regularly builds up in them and can ignite.
  • A fireplace should have a tight fitting damper to prevent warm air from rushing out the chimney.
  • Protect your water pipes in outside walls. During extreme cold weather run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent your pipes from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage. Close your outside crawl space vents to prevent frozen pipes.
  • Never use a stove, oven or outdoor grill as a source of indoor heat.
  • Don’t overload electrical outlets. Use surge protectors of multiple outlets are needed.
  • When using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. A space heater should be unplugged or turned off if you go to be or leave the house.
  • Consider having a fire extinguisher in your home.
  • Set the heating thermostat as low as comfort permits. Each degree above 68 degrees can add 3 percent to the amount of energy needed for heating.
  • Keep the area around your meters and fuel inlets clear of snow and ice.

More:Group says Chambersburg's natural gas utility is one of the best

Help with your heating bill

Eligible residents who are struggling with their home heating bills can apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

LIHEAP last winter provided $1.4 million to 3,102 households in Franklin County.

“Everyone deserves a safe, warm home that helps them stay healthy and comfortable throughout the winter,” state Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller said. “LIHEAP helped to make this possible for more than 340,000 Pennsylvanians last year. That number includes thousands of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens - children, older Pennsylvanians, and individuals with a disability – helping them make ends meet as heating costs increase.”

Pennsylvania has nearly $219 million available in federal LIHEAP monies, including $12 million carried from last year.

LIHEAP can help pay for the monthly heating bill or give an emergency grant to fix heating equipment. The qualifying income limit for a household of two is $24,690. Add $6,480 for each additional person.

Grants are available on a first-come-first-serve basis until April 12. For more information, call the LIHEAP Hotline at 800-272-2714 or apply at the Franklin County Assistance Office. An application can be printed from online.

Consumers also may qualify for help from the utility that supplies their heat. For more information call the PUC at 800-692-7380.

“Every year, utilities across Pennsylvania spend about $385 million on customer assistance programs, not counting LIHEAP,” PUC Chairman Gladys Brown said. “Collectively, these utility programs reach more than 302,000 electric customers and over 150,000 natural gas customers across the state.”

Jim Hook, 717-262-4759