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10 Tips to Save More on Heating Oil this Winter

Washington, DC, September 25, 2013 Homeowners are feeling the chill of fall, and some may have turned on their furnaces these past few days. Consumers who heat with oil can save on heating costs this upcoming season by being proactive and taking a few small steps to conserve energy.

Thanks to the many advances made in heating oil technology, today’s heating oil equipment is more efficient than ever. However, to get the most out of your equipment, the heating oil industry’s Energy Communications Council recommends pairing the best equipment with the right efficiency and conservation measures.

Did you know? Just the annual maintenance and a tune-up of your heating system will save 5-10%.
And… A modern high efficiency oilheat system can save you up to 40% depending on the age of your current system.

Here are a few more tips from the Energy Communications Council to save energy and lower heating costs:

1. Wrap exposed pipes with proper insulation to prevent both heat loss and freezing.
2. Install and close storm windows, and consider new glass that is designed to decrease radiant heat loss without lowering visibility.
3. Replace your manual thermostat with a programmable model, and lower it just a few degrees while at work or sleeping.
4. Remember that hot water uses fuel too. Take notice of how much you use while bathing and washing dishes, and make an attempt to reduce consumption.
5. Consider having a solar water heating component installed. This small, easily installed system is virtually maintenance free and warms the water your family uses on a daily basis, using the free heat from the sun.

Want your home to be even smarter? Using outdoor reset controls will reduce the upper limit for hot water in your baseboard based on outside air temperature. For example, a thermostat set on 68°F in February requires 180°F water; while in the "shoulder months" like October and April, a thermostat set on 68°F only requires 120°F degree water from the boiler to your baseboard. That could save 10-20% on your heating costs.

Finally, take a moment to ask your local heating oil dealer about Bioheat®, a cleaner burning, renewable product that can be blended seamlessly with the heating oil you already use. It lowers emissions and cuts down on the amount of traditional heating oil used. In states where ultra-low sulfur heating oil is sold, biofuels can be blended, creating a fuel suitable for burning in the world’s most efficient heating equipment.

For more information regarding practical energy saving tips, contact your local heating oil dealer, your state or regional heating oil association, or visit www.heatingnews.org and www.oilheatamerica.com.

The ECC is comprised of the Delaware Valley Fuel Dealers’ Association, Empire State Petroleum Association, Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey, Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, New York Oil Heating Association Inc., and Oil Heat Comfort Corporation of Long Island. It is funded in part by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA).