How To Cut Heating Costs This Winter

It’s been a fairly mild winter so far here in northern Vermont, but that doesn’t mean that our heating systems have it easy—and the harder a job they have, the more you’ll be paying for your heating bills.

5 Home Efficiency Tips

If you’re looking for ways to help out your heating equipment and keep those bills as low as possible, here are five of the most cost-effective ways to do it:

1. Seal Air Leaks: Homes—especially older ones in our neck of the woods—constantly leak air through cracks around doors and windows, and through your walls and roof. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment (caulk is typically used for cracks and openings between stationary house components such as around door and window frames, and weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and operable windows). Doorsweeps can also keep out drafts.
2. Adding Insulation: About a quarter (25%) of the hot and cold air that escapes from your home comes as a result of inadequate insulation. By adding 8” of affordable insulation to your attic alone and you’ll cut cooling and heating costs by 10-20 percent. For more insulation tips, check out this page from the U.S. Department of Energy.
3. Change Air Filters Regularly: A clogged air filter inhibits air flow, which makes your furnace work harder to do its job. Over time, that overwork will raise your bills and even cause premature breakdown of your system if left untreated. Check your filters regularly during heating season—once a month or so, especially if you have pets that shed.
4. Use a Programmable Thermostat: A properly installed (and properly used) programmable thermostat can reduce heating costs by 10% or more by controlling temperature when no one is home—or when you’re asleep and won’t notice the difference.
5. Get a Professional Tune-up: An un-serviced heating system loses an average of about five percent efficiency per year—meaning that a typical annual heating tune-up pays for itself in retaining that efficiency. Routine maintenance also prevents long-term equipment wear and tear and can even keep your warranty in place. Professional preventive care is a must for your heating equipment—if you haven’t had it this year, get it done before the real winter weather hits!

Want another way to save money? Sign up for FREE automatic fuel delivery from Corse Fuels. With automatic delivery for your heating oil or propane, you’ll avoid a runout and its costly consequences, like emergency fuel runouts and propane leak tests. Contact Corse Fuels today to make the switch to automatic delivery!