In the current economic scenario, many homeowners are worried about being able to afford to heat their homes. If you fall into this category and are using heating oil, this article is for you. Below we provide you with some simple tips to help you to keep your power bills under control.
Turn your thermostat down
Using your thermostat properly is important. For the typical homeowners, reducing the temperature by as little as 1 degree Celsius can lower their fuel bill by around 2%. That means if you manage to turn your thermostat down by 4 degrees you can reduce your fuel bill by around 8%.
Many homeowners are aware of this, so they already keep their room thermostat settings low. However, not everyone is aware that there is also a thermostat on the boiler. If you turn this one down as well, you can often save a further 2 or 3%.
However, it is best not to adjust this thermostat yourself. The next time you have your boiler serviced, speak to the engineer and ask him or her to do it. It’s even better if you could switch to smart thermostats.
Buy winter fuel early
By far one of the simplest ways of keeping the cost down is to buy your winter fuel early. Firms like Emo Oil do not shut down during the summer months, so are more than happy to deliver your winter heating fuel early. The fact that demand for domestic heating oil tails off during the warmer months means that the price tends to be lower at that time of the year.
It is important to bear in mind the fact that the price of oil fluctuates, so checking the price every week is a good habit to get into. If you notice a general downward trend, place your order as soon as the price starts to rise again.
Get your boiler serviced regularly
Any boiler that has not been set up properly, or serviced regularly, will run too hot. This means that it will be burning more fuel than is absolutely necessary. As a result, not getting your boiler serviced on a regular basis usually works out to be a false economy. More importantly, it is also dangerous. A boiler that has not been properly maintained is far more likely to throw out fumes. If you breathe these in, you can get sick, or even die. Therefore, it is never worth trying to save money by delaying your boiler service.
Upgrade your insulation and add more draught exclusion measures
A home that is not adequately insulated takes far longer to warm, up. In addition, much of the heat you generate will escape and end up being wasted. Good insulation is a key component of any energy saving plan.
Heat can be lost from all parts of your property, but some areas are leakier than others. This infographic shows you where heat is most likely to be escaping from your home. Using this information, you can target your efforts to achieve the best results.
