Home Heating Tips and Information

With the cost of home heating on the rise, we've got to make sure our homes are as energy efficient as possible. We should be getting the most out of every gallon of fuel oil we burn! Here are some useful tips for making the heating of your home on Long Island as cost-effective as possible.

  • Check your furnace

    Perform a maintenance check. Clean the filters every month. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than older furnaces, getting much more heat out of each gallon of fuel oil. If your furnace is old, it may be worth the money to upgrade to a new model.

  • Lower thermostat settings overnight

    Keeping the temperature of your house lower overnight will save money over time. An 8% decrease in temperature for 8 hours a day can reduce your heating bill by 8%. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can automate this by having the temperature drop at your normal bed time and warm up shortly before you rise. You can normally get these thermostats for less than $100.

    It is not true that it costs the same amount of money to reheat your house in the morning as it does to leave it warm overnight. Lower temperatures overnight equals less fuel oil used and a lower heating bill!

  • Seal your home up

    Windows, especially older windows, let hot air seep out. Modern windows minimize this loss with their efficient designs. By fixing all the cracks and holes in your windows, and in the window frames, heat has less opportunities to escape. Also, locking your windows insures a seal as tight as possible. Hanging drapes over drafty windows will help keep heat in, and tacking plastic sheeting over single pane windows adds an extra layer of insulation. The more heat that stays in your home the less fuel oil you need to use to heat it.

  • Insulation is key

    Insulation has more control over airflow into (and out of) your home than any other factor. Your insulation is responsible for keeping you warm in the winter. Your attic is particularly vulnerable to warm air loss, and insulation there should be at least six inches thick. If your insulation is more than 30 years old, it is likely under-insulated

  • Solar power your hot-water heater.

    You can save a potential 10% a year off your fuel oil bill with an initial $7,000 investment in a solar unit to heat water. With todays energy prices, the units should pay for themselves in less than 10 years. If solar heating your hot water isn't an option for you, consider wrapping your heater in an insulating jacket.

  • Do some creative landscaping.

    By planting year-round trees on the windy side of your home, and deciduous trees on the sunny side, you can help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Some studies show that planting evergreens on the west side of your home can cut your heating bill by 25%.

  • Get an energy audit

    Your electric or gas company can normally give you an audit for a fair price, if not totally free. A professional will come to your home and examine what the most effective ways to save energy in your home are.

  • Limit hot water usage

    Try and use more cold water when doing laundry and take shorter showers. Using less hot water reduces your energy needs and helps cut back on the amount of fuel oil you end up using.

  • Keep doors closed

    Keeping doors closed gives more control over the air flow of a house and in turn reduces energy dissipation. The more heat that stays in your home the less fuel oil you need to burn.

  • Don't heat everything

    Turn off the radiator and vents in rooms that are not used. Also don't forget to make sure you close the doors to these rooms.

  • Remove the AC

    With the wide extremes of temperatures experienced on Long Island make sure you don't forget to remove the AC you had running during the summer when the winter months start to come back. This cuts down on heat loss and will reduce your fuel oil costs.

Long Island Fuel Oil Links

For further information about fuel oil, energy, energy saving tips, and home heating check out the following links: