Effective Ways To Keep Your Heating Oil Costs Down
As you are probably very well aware of, the winter season causes a dramatic increase in your energy bills. The extra heat required in your dwelling also impacts your carbon footprint on the environment.
Fortunately, if you are looking for ways to lower your heating oil and energy costs, there are several tips you can follow to accomplish this objective.
By following the suggestions listed below, you will be able to maintain a comfortable home, while still keeping your energy bills in check.
Tips For Reducing Oil Heat Costs & Energy Bills
Having a warm home during winter is imperative for your safety and comfort. Unfortunately, this can be an expensive endeavor. Therefore, it is essential to discover ways to decrease your heating costs without sacrificing comfort in your home. Below are some excellent techniques you can put to use:
Table of Contents:
- Tips For Reducing Oil Heat Costs & Energy Bills
- Winterize Your Home By Using These Easy Steps
- Conduct An Energy Audit To Decrease Heating Costs
- What To Do About Leaks And Drafts
- Getting Fuel Smart To Lower Your Heating Oil Costs
- Utilize Natural Heat Instead Of Oil Whenever Possible
- Wise Use Of Your Thermostat
- Lower Heating Costs With Regular HVAC Maintenance
Winterize Your Home By Using These Easy Steps
Change of season does not surprise many people, as everyone expects the arrival of winter each year. However, no one wants to pay the high energy costs that come with it. By winterizing your home, you can help slash your energy bills.
Conduct An Energy Audit To Decrease Heating Costs
As outlined above, before the arrival of winter, you should make sure your home is ready for frigid weather. One effective way to decide whether or not this is the case is by conducting an energy audit. Such an audit assists you in identifying leaks or gaps where heated is lost. Movable AC units such as windows units and doors should also be insulated if they have leaks. Insulating pipes to avoid having them freeze, which results in expensive repairs, is also a wise course of action.
What To Do About Leaks And Drafts
You must address any air drafts that allow heat to escape. Begin by closing air conditioner vents and make sure fireplace dampers and kitchen vents are closed as well, whenever they are not in use. Make sure your cellar, attic, and exterior walls are all appropriately insulated. Doors and windows with leaks should be sealed to prevent heat from escaping during winter.
Completing all of the tasks mentioned above prevents your furnace from having to work more frequently. Therefore, it will use less heating oil. Obviously, the less fuel the unit requires, the lower your heating oil costs will be for your home.
Getting Fuel Smart To Lower Your Heating Oil Costs
With winter comes a higher demand for heating oil, and this subsequently raises prices for heating oil. Fortunately, you can reduce your energy bills in several ways.
One simple and effective thing you can do is to fill your oil tank when prices are lower during the summer. Contact your heating oil supplier and obtain quotes from various companies before you make a decision about which supplier to use. You may also wish to look into discount heating oil delivery options, which can substantially lower your winter heating oil costs as well. Be sure to call R.F. Ohl to find the lowest heating oil prices in the area.
Utilize Natural Heat Instead Of Oil Whenever Possible
Keeping drapes opened on sunny days is a great way to heat your home naturally. However, to prevent heat from escaping at night, you should close all blinds and drapes once the sun goes down.
The sun will naturally heat your home, which means your furnace will not have to work as hard. The less it cycles, the lower your energy bill will be in the long run.
You should also refrain from placing household items such as furniture over air vents since this interferes with heat circulation in the home.
Wise Use Of Your Thermostat
Professionals typically recommend lowering your home’s thermostat by a few degrees when you are not at home or even at night. Doing so can result in a reduction in heating costs. You may also wish to replace your manual thermostat with a new, modern programmable device. With this device, you can program temperatures in advance, which ultimately saves energy and lowers your fuel costs.
Lower Heating Costs With Regular HVAC Maintenance
To ensure that your heating unit is working efficiently, you should have it evaluated regularly by a professional HVAC technician. Doing so will also make sure that the system is ready for cold, winter temperatures. A tune-up prevents unpleasant surprises.
Always try to schedule a tuneup before winter. If you forgot to schedule one this fall, you should still have the unit evaluated. The Energy Communications Council reports that yearly tune-ups and maintenance help to lower oil costs and also ensures that your system will run at peak performance throughout the season.
Just like a motor vehicle, an HVAC unit needs proper maintenance regularly. Therefore, you should put off annual tune-ups.
If your HVAC unit is over 20 years old, you should invest in a newer, more energy-efficient unit. This is the best way to reduce your heating oil expenses and keep your home at a comfortable temperature. It also reduces your carbon footprint and therefore is good for the environment. Modern HVAC systems are more energy-efficient than those manufactured decades ago. They will typically save you between 15 and 25% on your heating bill. Therefore, you will have a return investment in a few years.
Conclusion
R.F. Ohl is a reliable HVAC company and supplier of heating oil.
We offer the areas most competitive heating oil prices, and we complete our deliveries in an efficient and timely manner.
We also have NATE-certified technicians on staff that can service your heating system. Our trustworthy technicians can complete any required repairs as well as perform tune-ups on your HVAC unit to ensure optimum energy use in your home.
R.F. Ohl also offers top-notch HVAC replacements, installations, maintenance, and repairs. Our technicians have the appropriate knowledge and experience to provide practical solutions for all of your HVAC needs. Contact us now to find out about our services and products.
Click here or call us at (610) 377-1098 to contact us today!