HERKIMER - With the heat on Thursday, chances are not everyone is thinking about heating their home this winter. Believe it or not, more people are, because of how much it could cost this winter for heating oil.

The owner of Herkimer Home and Leisure says his business has taken off lately. That is because those who use heating oil have been told they could be paying as much as $5 a gallon this winter.
 
"We are getting a lot of customers coming in saying to heat their home this winter at the projected price they're looking at 5 to 6 thousand dollars," says owner Tom Salanco.
          
"The average home can be heated with any one of those 3 fuels for under $1,000 dollars for the whole winter," he adds.

The savings may sound good, however there is one problem, because of an unprecedented demand, you may be too late, even though it's only mid July.

"All the major manufacturers, if they are not in back order situation now, are fast approaching a back order situation," Salanco says.

The owner of Hearth and Home USA in Marcy says the same thing. The whole Northeast has seen a demand increase in alternative sources of heat.

The good news is, if you are lucky enough to grab a stove that fits your need, you may be saving for a while, since these experts do not foresee the price of wood pellets or coal hitting the price of oil anytime soon.