While everyone is concerned with soaring gas prices at the pump, students living in houses will have soaring heating bills to worry about this winter. Snowfall and icy sidewalks may seem far away now, but it is the perfect time for students to make their homes heat efficient in order to save a few bucks.
Heating costs for homes are expected to nearly double this winter as a result of higher gas costs and higher costs of gas delivery, said John Primmer, president and general manager of Lehman's Inc., a local heating and air conditioning company.
"It could be a real painful winter," he said.
If Muncie experiences a colder winter, Primmer said he wouldn't be surprised to see students who live in 2,000 square foot houses paying $300 to $400 a month, including about $50 to heat water.
No one can put an exact figure on heating costs yet, though, said Chase Kelley, spokeswoman for Vectren Energy Delivery. Muncie's natural gas is bought and delivered by Vectren. The company won't be able to forecast customers' bills until Saturday.
"We are already out warning customers that natural gas prices are going to be high," Kelley said.
While the rising costs seem astronomical, gas heating has actually been increasing 12 to 18 percent each year for the past couple years. People haven't felt the brunt of rising costs because we have had mild winters, Primmer said.
Equipment costs for gas providers are rising too.
Kelley said that Vectren's cost increases this year are because of increased costs to buy and deliver gas.
Gas or Electric
The majority of homes in Muncie are heated with natural gas, Primmer said.
Students can figure out if their homes are heated by gas or electricity by looking at their heating bills. If the bill has the name Vectren on top, it's gas. If it says AEP, it's electric.
Another simple way to figure out if a home is heated by gas or electricity is to look for a gas meter on the side of the house, Primmer said.
Houses are probably gas-heated, and most apartment complexes or multi-unit living areas, including residence halls, are electric.
Want to save some money?
Although the near future might seem bleak, gas customers can do several things to reduce their heating bills in the winter.
First and foremost, students should change the air filter in the furnace every month, said David Hunt, co-owner of Hunt-Paulson Properties Inc. and member of the University Area Landlord Association.
"Changing a furnace filter is probably one of the most effective ways to keep the thing running at its peak performance," Hunt said.
He provides new filters to his tenants every month, but it is not the landlord's responsibility to provide tenants with filters, he said. Renting tenants should talk to their landlords to find out who is responsible for the furnace.
Primmer said students should ask the landlord to send a heating and air-conditioning professional to tune-up the furnace. Lehman's is already being called out for furnace tune-ups.
"The key is going to be to have a relatively efficient furnace and that furnace needs to be furnished to maximize its efficiency," he said.
Once again, no policy requires landlords to tune-up furnaces, but Hunt said he services his properties' furnaces every two years to increase the life of the machines.
Students can also sign up for Vectren's Budget Bill. A budget bill looks at how much a customer paid for gas during the previous 12 months and divides that number by 12. Vectren then charges the flat monthly average for the next 12 months. This way, customers don't experience the jump from $30 a month for gas in summer to $300 a month for gas in winter, Kelley said.
Another money-saving tip is to turn the thermostat down 10 degrees for eight hours a day while everyone is sleeping. This can save 12 to 15 percent on the monthly heating bills, Primmer said. It's also a good idea to turn down the thermostat when no one is home, he said.
The Internet and home improvement stores can provide ideas to "winterize" a home as well. HGTV.com offers several measures, including caulking holes, cracks and gaps inside and outside the home. The site also discusses weather stripping doors by adhering a strip of foam to the inside of the door frame. This closes the gap between the door and frame, reducing the amount of cold air that is let in.
The site homebuying.about.com suggests having chimneys cleaned and inspected, replacing loose shingles on the roof and using door stops at the bottom of doors to prevent drafts.
Although changing furnace filters and making the house colder at night can be an inconvenience, it's a small sacrifice to keep costs at a minimum, Hunt said.
"Most of those students are paying that energy bill and should be interested," he said. "That's a challenge."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
