Winter Is Coming: 4 Tips To Keep Your Home Warm And Your Heating Bill Under Control
Winter is just around the corner, so it's time to start thinking about ways to make your furnace run more efficiently. With heating oil prices on the rise, you want to do everything you can to conserve energy. Luckily, conserving energy doesn't mean you have to keep your home cold. By implementing the following four suggestions, you can keep your home warm this winter, and reduce your oil consumption.
Tune Up Your Heating System
If it's been a while since you had your heating system looked at, now's the time to get that done. When your heater isn't at peak efficiency, it's going to work harder to keep your home warm. Unfortunately, when your heater has to work harder, it has to use more oil to do its job. You can prevent heating oil waste by having your heater serviced at least once a year.
Go Natural
If you're not utilizing natural heat during the day, your home isn't as efficient as it could be. During the day, when the sun is at its peak, open your curtains, especially the ones that are facing the east and west. Opening your curtains will allow the sun to heat your home for you. Once the sun begins to set, and the temperatures start to cool, close your curtains to keep the heat in.
Insulate Your Pipes
If your heating pipes aren't insulated, you could be losing valuable energy. As the temperatures dip, they'll cool down your heating pipes. When that happens, your heater will continue to cycle on in an attempt to keep the oil heated. To conserve energy, reduce oil waste, and keep your home warm, you should insulate all of your heating pipes. As an added benefit, the insulation will also protect your pipes from freezing during frigid weather.
Keep the Area Clear
If you use radiators to heat your home, you need to keep the area clear. Furniture in and around the radiator can interfere with airflow. As a result, your radiator will have to work overtime to keep your home warm. For best results, make sure your radiator has a clear path all the way around it.
Winter is almost here. Time to think about your heating oil and energy efficiency. The tips here will help you keep your home warm and your heating bill under control this winter. For other helpful tips, be sure to speak to your heating oil supplier.