If you depend upon heating oil for your heating needs, here are five easy ways to save on heating costs this year and lower your energy bills.
#1 Have Your Heating System Tuned Up
Don't assume that your heating system is working properly just because it is heating up your house. Your heating system can heat up your house without having everything working at maximum efficiency. Get a heating inspection during the warm months of the year, when you don't need to rely on your heating system. Make any needed maintenance and repairs, or save up for them if there are any big repairs that are needed.
An annual inspection of your heating system can help ensure that it is working properly and as effectively as possible, which can help you reduce the amount of heating oil that you need to stay warm.
#2 Insulate All Heating Pipes
Next, if your heating pipes are not insulated, spend some time this spring insulating them. Just pick up piping insulation from your local hardware store; this type of insulation is designed to just slip over your pipes. You may want to purchase some electrical tape to keep the insulation in place.
Insulating your pipes will help reduce heat loss as it flows through the system and will help ensure that your heating pipes never freeze up, which is especially important if they are located in your unheated basement or crawl space.
#3 Keep Radiator Clear
Make sure that there are not items placed in front of or around your radiators. When items are too close to your radiator, they will absorb all of the heat from your radiator, and the heat will not be able to circulate freely through your home. Keeping items back from your radiator will help ensure that heat can flow freely to where it is needed in your home.
#4 Use A Programmable Thermostat
Next, if you don't have a programmable thermostat, you need to invest in one. It can save you a lot of energy and heat. You should set your thermostat up so that the temperature is lower temperature when you are asleep and when you are not at home. A programmable thermostat will allow you to control the temperature in your home more accurately without a lot of hassle, which should help you reduce your usage of heating oil.
Finally, try to cut down on any drafts in your house. Lost heat is lost money; make sure all of your doors, windows, and vents are well sealed.