The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures slightly above normal in the coming three months. That is cold comfort, however, considering the average temperature during December, January and February is 30.2 degrees.

There is a weak El Nino effect, or warming, in the Pacific Ocean, which will raise the temperature about 1 degree during those months, National Weather Service meteorologist Rodney Smith said.

The service is forecasting a total snowfall of 27.7 inches during the quarter.

Not to worry. There are things home-owners can do to keep their houses warm and energy efficient and save on utility bills. Topping the list is getting the furnace serviced. Also important: seal cracks around doors and windows and get used to a lower setting of the thermostat.

Those suggestions and others come from Action Housing Inc., which runs a weatherization program.

"We've been getting referrals all day," said Ken Provic, who administers the weatherization program for Allegheny, Greene and Washington counties. The program helps low-income homeowners and renters with weatherization projects and conducts energy education seminars. Between 1,000 and 1,200 weatherization jobs are performed each year in the three counties, he said.

People must meet eligibility requirements to participate. Those interested should call Mr. Provic at 1-800-841-6899.

He offered several tips for any homeowner interested in lowering energy bills.

A good place to start is the furnace, which should be serviced and cleaned for the season. Contractors vary on what they include in the service, but a thorough job should cover a safety check and vacuuming dust and dirt from the squirrel cage on the fan, Mr. Provic said. When oil and grime accumulate, it tends to keep air from circulating through the house.

He recommended the air filter be changed monthly or at least every other month. Once again, a dirty air filter prevents air from circulating freely. He recommends, with forced air furnaces, keeping heat registers free of rugs and furniture to keep air flowing.

Mr. Provic estimated the cost of servicing a furnace ranges from $75 to $85.

Mark Pacilla, president of McVehil Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, with offices in Canonsburg and Washington, does the job for $80. McVehil said changing air filters monthly was the industry standard. His company checks and cleans major components of the furnace, performs a safety inspection and makes sure humidifiers are working.

By checking the furnace, insulating and weatherization, Mr. Pacilla said, there's a lot less need for space heaters.

But for those who choose to use them, Mr. Provic said, the safest kind are the electric, oil-filled variety. He advises against using ventless gas heaters because all the byproducts are dumped into the house. Kerosene heaters are especially unhealthful, he said, because they dump a lot of moisture into the house, creating mold and mildew.

According to Brian Lawrence, a salesman at Lowe's, the newest thing in space heaters is remote controls. The store's most popular models are the electric oil-filled variety, followed by a quartz type that remains cool to the touch. Prices range from about $35 to $129.

In addition to space heaters, there are the tried-and-true methods of conserving heat, such as sealing up drafty windows with plastic and using Draft Dodgers, padded cloths at the bottom of a door to trap warm air inside. Weather strip kits to go around doors also are a good idea.

As far as temperature settings are concerned, Mr. Provic said, 68 degrees is generally recommended. Although some bristle at that setting at first, Mr. Provic said, it takes the body about 30 days to acclimate to lower temperatures. Furthermore, every degree above 68 costs 3 percent more to heat the home.

When it comes to heating costs, Columbia Gas Co. spokesman Matt Pitzarella said, there are a number of assistance programs available to those who cannot afford to pay their bills. Among them is the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP. More than $115 million has been allocated for the current season.

For more information about the program, call the following utilities: Columbia at 1-800-272-2714, Dominion Peoples at 1-800-400-9276, or Equitable Gas at 1-800-644-8090.

For those who do not have trouble meeting their bills but still want to reduce heating costs, Mr. Pitzarella said, natural gas is the least expensive fuel for heating the home this winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Association. He said natural gas costs this year are about 35 percent, or $40, less a month than last year.

He cited a couple of things homeowners can do to conserve energy. Like Mr. Provic, he recommends a furnace inspection and, if buying a new furnace, choosing an energy-efficient one. Look for the Energy Star on appliances, which means they meet strict guidelines determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

Mr. Pitzarella recommended getting a home energy audit, which costs about $40. If its suggestions for energy conservation are taken seriously, a homeowner will probably make his money back.