The air is crisp, pumpkin has taken over everything and the days are getting shorter.

Fall is a favored season, but it also means the "W" word is right around the corner. Winter is a high utility cash spending season, but with a few simple and cost effective steps, winter doesn't have to break this year's bank."One of the biggest money wasters we see is people using electric space heaters to try and heat a whole floor," Brian Kroboth, Carbon County Weatherization program manager said."They are only supposed to be used to support the heating system that is already there."One of the best ways to save money on heating is to make sure the equipment is running as efficiently as possible.According to Christopher Hardy, a specialist at R.F. Ohl Oil Company, a yearly tuneup is one of the easiest ways to keep efficiency up."An annual tuneup service is just like an oil change for your car. It helps with efficiency and allows a tech to look at the system to see if any flags are raised on future problems. It's the difference between over $1,000 in repairs or $170 for a tuneup."The ideal time for a furnace service is between August and October before the furnace is really required."It's early enough to find anything major," he said.When asked which type of heating is best for the average home, Hardy says it's not about the type of fuel as much as it is about the equipment. Any furnace predating 1995 tends to run at an 85 percent efficiency level, while more up-to-date heating is 95 percent efficient. An annual tuneup can up the efficiency of an old system to closer to 90 percent."If you have a 275-gallon oil tank and only utilizing 85 percent at a $3 per gallon cost you are losing 30 cents right out the window. If a tuneup can get you to 90 percent or better, it's going to save you money."Of course there is the issue of wood stoves which require a chimney sweep roughly every two years."If we run into a terracotta chimney and it's black we will call the chimney sweeps over at Mauch Chunk Chimney. If you smell anything like burned toast, it's definitely time to call. The fuel should always smell clean," Hardy said.Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission also recommends an annual furnace/boiler tuneup.Cleaning filters, baseboards and vents will help equipment run more efficiently, but also will help keep the home free of dangerous carcinogens and carbon monoxide.Ohl completes a 30-point inspection plus a full cleaning of the unit for the annual tuneup."It's a critical service that should be performed early," said Hardy."We get lots of calls once it hits the cold days. People will try to turn on heat and it won't turn on. Last year we had about 358 service calls because people waited."A Check List from Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission:One of the biggest problems in the coal region is the age of homes.A simple check of windows and doors can keep heating costs down.Make sure all windows have caulking and are sealed around the outside. Weather stripping around the frame is fairly cheap and effective. Adding door sweeps will also reduce draft.Curtains are a simple way to keep heat in. Open curtains during the day to let the sun in and close them at night to hold in the radiant heat.Close off rooms that are not heavily used. Check baseboards or vents in underused rooms for a switch to lower heat.Always make sure baseboards are clean and clear of furniture or other blocks.Keep the thermostat set on 68 degrees in the winter. Costs can add up to a 3 percent difference the higher the heat.Lower the water temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees.Wrap the hot water tank in a thermal blanket to help regulate the temperature and cut down on heat loss.For additional energy savers visit

www.projectenergysavers.com.