WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- The KSN Storm Track 3 team is forecasting an arctic blast that will hit the state late Friday and last several days. Temperatures will be coldest on Monday when large areas of Kansas will see lows below zero and wind chills even lower. Kansas gas providers have some advice to keep your heating bills from skyrocketing. Black Hills Energy says leaving your thermostat at the same temperature during arctic cold uses more energy than on milder days. Storm Track 3 Forecast: Arctic blast arrives tonight, brutal cold this weekend Both Black Hills Energy and Kansas Gas Service have advice on how to reduce usage and help offset the key factors of your bill. No matter your gas company, you can find helpful tips in these lists. Black Hills Energy advice Lower your temperature setting a few degrees to save energy and close curtains to keep warm air inside. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees and ensure the water heater is insulated properly. Water heaters are the second largest energy user in a house, accounting for about 18% of an energy bill. Adjust your humidity. A well-humidified house at 68 degrees Fahrenheit is as comfortable as a dry house at 75 degrees. Make sure your fireplace damper closes tightly when you're not using it. Closing the damper could save 8% of your home's heat. Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans only as needed. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a house full of warm air. If you plan on cooking multiple dishes, bake as many as you can at the same time. Take advantage of the energy that goes into heating up the oven fewer times to use less energy. Skip the drying cycle on your dishwasher. Instead, prop the door open once dishes are washed and allow them to air dry. You could save as much as 30% of your energy costs by better insulating your attic or top floor. You can save about 8% of your energy costs by insulating the floor over any unheated areas, such as crawl spaces, basements and garages. Black Hills Energy says it offers some options for people who struggle to pay their gas bill: Payment arrangments: Extended payment terms to help customers get back on track. Budget Billing: A free payment plan that averages the amount owed each month. Energy Assistance: Energy assistance programs supported by Black Hills Energy, like Black Hills Cares, can be accessed by visiting the Assistance Programs page on our website or by contacting 211 (211.org). Kansas Gas Service tips Keep warm, not hot- When possible wear additional layers of clothing, consider turning down your thermostat and check your programmable settings. Seal leaks around doors and windows- Apply weather-stripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to stop air leaks and prevent energy loss. If that is not an option, you can also cover windows with towels, sheets or plastic to help keep the warm air in your house. Seal air leaks in your unfinished basement, particularly along rim joists and sill plates. Add an airtight door to your fireplace to keep heated air from escaping through the chimney. Reduce the temperature on your water heater- Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Close blinds and curtains- This helps keep warm air inside, especially if the sun is not shining. When the sun is shining, open drapes on the south-side windows to take advantage of free heat from the sun. Change or clean filters- A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Dirty filters cost more to use and overwork the equipment. Hold off on doing chores- Doing laundry and washing dishes can both use natural gas to heat the water and your dryer. If you can, wait until the extreme cold weather passes to complete these activities. If you cannot wait, use the cold setting where possible. Install foam gaskets on switches and outlets- By installing foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets, you can reduce your home’s energy loss. Change rotation of ceiling fans- Hot air rises, so reverse your ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to push that warmth back downward. Kansas Gas Service also added some safety tips: Never use your stove or oven for home heating. Make sure nothing obstructs a furnace’s air intake and that vents and flues are intact and unblocked to avoid the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning. When removing ice and snow in the vicinity of meters, vents or flues, do so carefully so as not to cause damage. Leave cabinet doors open, especially those on exterior walls, to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.