Heating Oil News
Look for ways to make your home energy efficient
November 15, 2012
Old Man Winter is just around the corner. So, are you and your home ready for the season?
Though it’s still early to predict, there’s equal chances for this winter to be below, above or near normal, according to the outlook for three months beginning December issued by the National Weather Service Forecast office in Mount Holly.
“Compared to the September outlook we might be trending cooler,” said Valerie Meola, meteorologist.
No matter how severe or normal the winter is we know temperatures will drop, and heating bills will rise hurting your wallets. Now is the time to assess your heating system and making sure everything at home is working efficiently to keep you warm, and your bills low.
If your system is ready for replacement, find a high efficiency natural gas heater and boiler, says Joanne Brigandi, spokeswoman for the South Jersey Industries Services. You could also earn rebates from New Jersey’s WARMAdvantage Program at www.njcleanenergy.com for your new system.
Once your system is a go, look for ways to make your home for energy efficient.
“The main thing is to seal up all cracks on windows, doors, below the door or any hole that air can penetrate through,” said James Harden, master plumber and owner at Father & Son’s Plumbing & Heating in Millville. “Also, cover up air conditioning systems and cover your hot water heater with a blanket.”
According to Harden, homeowners can save from hundreds through thousands of dollars by insulating their homes and keeping the cold air out.
Stan Orzechowski, vice president design and sales at Laury Services in Vineland said changing the air filter seasonally is also essential to keeping costs down.
“One of the great ways to save money to get an automatic thermostat that turns down the heat automatically when no one is home,” he said.
Orzechowski suggests downloading applications on mobile devices, which allows homeowners to monitor the temperature at home. Gadgets such as iPads also have infrared scans that helps find cold spots in the house, another great way to seal any unwanted openings.
Here are a few more recommendations from the Energy Communications Council and South Jersey Industries to save energy and money this winter.
• Get a home energy audit done by an accredited and certified contractor.
• Insulate your attic and also any exposed pipes to prevent both heat loss and freezing.
• Lower thermostat while at work or while you are sleeping. You can cut annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent annually by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours per day.
• Open shades and drapes when the sun is out to help warm your home. Close them when the sun goes down to reduce heat loss through drafty windows.
• Move furniture away from heating vents because it can obstruct heat from circulating
• Hot water uses fuel too. Reduce hot water around the home. Take a shower rather than a bath.There are other more expensive investments that could save you money in the long term.
• Install and close storm windows.
