Heating oil prices tend to be higher in the colder months than in the warmer months. However, you do not necessarily have to spend a lot of money on heating oil this winter. In this article, you will find some tips on how to save money on heating oil and, in general, your home heating costs.
Bulk Purchase Heating Oil During The Off-Season
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The oil market is extremely volatile. Consequently, heating oil prices tend rise and fall seasonally. However, these prices tend to follow clearly defined trends. In general, fuel oil prices tend to be higher in the winter months compared to the summer months. The peak is between the months of October and March. This means that, if you understand these trends, or price movements, you can purchase your heating oil at the right time. This means you can save on fuel oil costs by buying during the off-season.
Furnace Winter Tune-up (Preventative Maintenance)
Before winter sets in, have an HVAC technician perform preventative maintenance on your furnace. Preventative maintenance will ensure your furnace remains energy efficient throughout the winter. This means that it will consume less heating oil in order to keep your home nice and comfortable. This keeps your energy costs and heating oil use much lower.
Cut Your Water Heating Expenses
Water heating costs account for about 12% of the energy costs in the average American household, reports the DOE. Fortunately, you do not necessarily need to invest in new water heating appliances in order to cut your expenses. In other words, you can achieve this goal with no-cost habit changes such as:
- reducing the amount of time you spend in the shower
- using cold water for most laundry loads
- minimizing wastage of hot water
- lowering the temperature of your water heater to about 120°F
Ensure Your Home Is Energy Efficient
To save money on heating costs, make your home more energy efficient. Some of the things you can do to achieve this goal include:
Use optimum thermostat settings: The DOE recommends you set your thermostat at 68° F to 70° F when your home is occupied. When it is not occupied or at night, set it to 60° F. By doing this, your annual heating costs will fall from 10% to 20%. This means that you can reduce your energy bill by as much as 2% for every degree you lower your thermostat during the winter. To enjoy maximum savings, invest in a programmable thermostat. Such a thermostat would control your indoor temperature automatically based on how you program it.
Seal air leaks: Your home contains relatively small gaps. This includes the small gaps around doors and windows. Unfortunately, these gaps allow for air leakage which contribute to heat loss in the winter. Even worse, your heating system has to work harder to heat your home. Consequently, this means that it consumes more heating oil. Experts claims that these air leaks combined can lose as much heat as if a window was left open. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to seal such air leaks when using expandable foam, weatherstripping, and caulk.
Fuel Oil Delivery Newton NJ
Use the tips discussed above to save money this winter on heating oil.
When you are on the search to find the best heating oil companies near me, you will notice that PFO Heating & Air Conditioning stands out. This is because we are a trusted name in the fuel oil industry. Not only that but we are reliable HVAC company too! We can deliver high quality, affordable fuel oil and maintain your heating system. All of our HVAC contractors are NATE certified with years of experience. This makes them a great resource for addressing your heating needs and making your home more energy efficient. Be sure to give us a call. Your home comfort is our specialty!
We service Bryn Athyn PA 19009, Dresher PA 19025, Hatboro PA 19040, Horsham PA 19044, Huntingdon Valley PA 19006, Jamison PA 18929, Richboro PA 18954, Rushland PA 18956, Southampton PA 18966, Warminster PA 18974, Warrington PA 18976, Willow Grove PA 19090 , and surrounding areas.
Contact us now at (800) 253-9001 to find out more!