Winter is often associated with the holidays, family gatherings, and other good things. However, the season is not without its drawbacks. It’s a time when moving about gets difficult due to thick snow. It can also become extremely cold even inside the home. In many cases, household heating is absolutely necessary. This ensures that everyone stays relaxed and comfortable no matter what the outside temperature may be. Yet the cost of heating can be a big burden on the budget with fuel costing thousands of dollars. Giving it up is not an option but it is possible to reduce the expenses by focusing on efficiency.
The EIA Study
The importance of having a high efficiency heating system is in the spotlight following a recent study released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It is about the “Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook” around the country, concentrating on the price movements and making year-on-year comparisons. The findings should serve as a wake-up call for consumers from all regions. The EIA expects the cost of heating to increase for over 90% of US households this winter compared to that of last year. The exact period for the study covers October 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. The agency says that the projected higher heating expenditures this winter are mainly due to changes in energy prices. A summary of the report can be viewed at http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=13311.
Price, Not Temperature
There are about 116 million homes in the country and the vast majority is going to be affected by the price surges. The increases will vary depending on the fuel used. According to the EIA forecast, the prices of propane, electricity and natural gas are likely to go up while that of heating oil is likely to go down. The agency has calculated the average household expenditures for residents for each type fuel and the results provide some solid figures.
Homes using natural gas can expect to spend $679 which is 13% higher than the previous year’s average. About one-half of U.S. households use natural gas. Meanwhile, those using propane will use $1,666 which is 9% higher year-on-year. People using electric heating will pay about $909 which is roughly a 2% gain. While heating oil costs will drop by 2%, the average expenditure is the highest at $2,046. Note that these are averages and fuel price changes will differ according to the region.
The temperature, on the other hand, is not going to affect the prices much as they are expected to stay close to last year’s levels. Of course, it is a large country and some places may experience unusual variations but the general outlook is stable. Those living in the Northeast may feel more chilly than usual with temperatures dropping about 3%. Those living in the West will have the opposite with temperatures rising at about the same rate.
HVAC Maintenance and Installations
The best way to keep the heating costs low is to ensure that the HVAC system is always operating at an optimum level. A more efficient heater means lower energy costs. Periodic maintenance is a must as efficiency could drop due to clogs and other issues. Breakdowns should be fixed at the soonest possible time. If the heating system is old and is prone to failure, consider having a new one installed. It’s a worthwhile investment that will result in substantial savings.
