All the Tips and Tricks to Staying on Budget with Soaring Heating Oil Prices
The weather outside is frightful, and it’s getting colder by the day. If you’re not looking forward to turning up the heat inside your home, you’re not alone; the price of heating oil has skyrocketed in recent years, and many homeowners are feeling the pinch. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to stay warm without busting your budget, as well as ways to save money on heating oil even if you can’t change your plan or provider this year. Here are some tips and tricks to help you keep the warmth without breaking the bank this winter.
Monitor oil tanks
Most heating oil tanks have a gauge that allows you to keep an eye on how much oil is in them. You should always know what level your tank is at, even if you don’t plan on changing it out for another couple of weeks. Keeping track of your levels will help prevent running out of oil in an emergency, which can put a serious damper on those winter nights.
Seal any potential leaks
While you can’t always control your energy usage, you can make sure that your home is as energy-efficient as possible. A number of relatively inexpensive upgrades are available—from new weather stripping around windows and doors to energy-efficient light bulbs, insulation or a new high-efficiency heating system. Be sure to seal any potential leaks in your home: The U.S. Department of Energy says 10 percent of all heat loss happens through openings like these, while air infiltration accounts for 15 percent. In addition to sealing up these spots, be sure to keep your home warm in winter by insulating pipes (they often leak hot water) and adding attic or basement insulation.
Lower your thermostat
If you live in a climate where it drops below freezing, you can’t help but be concerned about rising heating oil prices. Many people find themselves turning up their thermostat when they get home from work in an effort to stay warm at night or when they wake up in the morning. However, that’s just going to cost you more money. Instead of putting yourself through sleepless nights (or heated ones), try lowering your thermostat to 55 degrees F overnight. You won’t notice any difference during the day, and you may even feel warmer since your body isn’t working as hard to keep you warm. And if you do start feeling too cold, simply move your thermostat back up by 5 degrees F until it feels comfortable again—your energy savings will quickly cover what little extra effort might be required to adjust.
Use sun or heat pump during the day
Using heat pump or sun during day time will not only save you money but also help out environment. It is recommended that when you have sunny weather, use it to your advantage by heating your home in full blast. Don’t be stingy, let as much sunlight warm up your home as possible. On a cloudy day or night time, turn on your heat pump to keep yourself warm and cozy at night after a tiring day.
Insulate your tank and pipes
Insulating your tank and pipes is one of those winter home-improvement projects that takes a long time but can save you plenty in heating costs. It’s also one of those chores that, as you’re performing it, seems pretty straightforward—but once you go back to check your work or make some changes, you realize how many details there are. Here’s what to do: First determine how much insulation is needed for your specific heating system (the U.S. Department of Energy offers a handy online calculator). Then buy enough fiberglass or cellulose insulation, available at hardware stores and big box retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s. Cut pieces to fit around your outside water faucets, well casing, gas meter and any other exposed metal. Next cut holes in attic floors so you can pass heatproof hoses through them; tuck them into tight corners around where they enter your house through walls or ceilings. Once you get all of that done, take care to seal up any gaps between insulation and metal, since cold air likes to seep in through tiny openings. Use a staple gun (but not too close) or caulk gun loaded with silicone caulk to seal these spaces.
Try a new way of doing things
If you’re struggling to stay within your budget, try a new way of doing things: Look into making energy-efficient upgrades that can lower heating bills. Maybe it’s time for a new, more fuel-efficient furnace or boiler system. Do you have leaky doors or windows? Replacing these can help bring down your monthly heating bill. If you have an old heating system that is more than 15 years old, replacing it will save you money in both energy costs and maintenance fees over time. A new high-efficiency water heater also makes sense—they last longer, are more efficient and generally produce less wear and tear on your home since they aren’t constantly running. High efficiency toilets are also worth investing in; they use less water per flush so that one fill up can take care of multiple uses before refilling.
Create heating hacks for your home
Check your windows to see if they need a good cleaning. Use shutters or curtains to help hold in heat. Put your heating vents near window sills so warm air goes directly into your home. If you have under-floor heating, make sure that it’s set as high as possible and well insulated. Additionally, lower your thermostat by 5 degrees while you are out of the house; when you return home, adjust it back up again.