Why are Gas Heating Bills so High this Winter?

The government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that, on average, households using natural gas will spend about $930 to heat their homes over the 2022–2023 cold months. This big jump is based on both an increase in natural gas consumption and prices.

It’s important to remember that your average cost will vary based on:

• the local climate,
• size of your home and
• how well your house is insulated and air-sealed.

What’s Behind Rising Natural Gas Prices

Natural gas has been going up because the cost of natural gas is tied to both national and international events that impact supply and demand:

1. Increased use of natural gas to make electricity
2. International demand for U.S. liquidized natural gas
3. Return of economic activity after the pandemic
4. Higher production costs due to inflation and supply chain disruptions
5. Geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine
6. Natural disaster events like hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico

Weatherization can help with your heating bill, but the most energy-efficient way to keep your home comfortable year-round is a heat pump. Even in colder climates, the right heat pump installed properly can be a cost savings. Companies in Cincinnati that service furnaces and air conditioners can help you decide if a heat pump is right for your home at this time.

How Natural Gas and Electricity Prices are Connected

When natural gas costs rise, energy costs for everyone go up, because natural gas is used to generate much of the electricity used in your home.

Natural gas is currently the largest source of electricity in the U.S. Plus, natural gas makes up close to 25% of the world’s energy supply. Since a lot of electricity in the U.S. is produced by this type of fuel, when its price increases, your electric bill increases, too.

Here in the U.S., we have increased our use of natural gas while decreasing our use of coal and nuclear energy. Natural gas provides a cleaner fossil fuel backup to renewable energy resources, like wind and solar energy, which are based on forecasted weather patterns.

How to Make Sure you are not Wasting Energy

The following are signs that you may have air leaks:

Ice Dams

These are large sheets of ice on your roof (that usually hang off the sides as they melt).

Ice dams form because a portion of your attic is improperly sealed and insulated. Heated air from your home escapes into the attic and melts snow on the roof too quickly. This snow freezes again and ice swells under the shingles, causing damage to your home.

Different Temperatures in Different Rooms

Uneven temperatures mean your heating system or AC is overcompensating as it tries to reach the correct temperature.

If air leaks are not sealed and your house is not insulated properly, your heater or AC will continue running without hitting its set temperature.

High Energy Usage

An average-size home shouldn’t require more than 250 therms of gas per month in winter. If you’re going way over that number, your heating system may be wasting energy due to heat escaping.

Drafts

Drafts are a sign that you don’t have an energy-efficient home. And they’re a definite sign of heat loss.

High Hot Water Use

Hot water generating makes up about 14% of your home’s energy use. If you have a large household, you’re most likely using a lot of hot water for bathing, dishes and laundry. Make sure your hot water heater is set at 120 degrees or lower for the optimum temperature.