Saving Money on Your Home Heating Bills: Strategies Beyond the Fuel Tank
Written by Vincent E. Martinelli, Jr.
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As the temperature starts to drop and the heating season approaches, many homeowners start to feel a familiar dread - the impending spike in their monthly energy bills. If your home is heated by an oil-fired furnace or boiler, you know all too well how costly it can be to keep your house warm through the long winter months. Don't worry, there are a number of strategies you can use to help reduce your home's fuel consumption and keep those heating costs in check. The good news is, many of these tactics aren't just about the fuel itself - they're also great for improving the overall efficiency and performance of your heating system. One of the first things you'll want to do is make sure your furnace or boiler is properly maintained and serviced on a regular basis. Just like with your car, regular tune-ups and cleanings can go a long way in keeping your home heating equipment running at peak efficiency. This could involve things like replacing air filters, adjusting burners, and cleaning out any built-up soot or residue. In systems where the fuel filter is post-tank, meaning that the fuel doesn’t get filtered until after it is sucked through a typically small pipe, servicing the furnace or boiler annually is even more important. Gunk can form in the line, making it more difficult for the system to acquire the necessary fuel. When the system is properly maintained and serviced, the sheer volume of oil which is drained from the system during that process can clear most of any in-line gunk. You may also be well-served to consider upgrading to a more modern, high-efficiency heating system if your current one is on the older side. New oil-fired furnaces and boilers can be up to 95% efficient, meaning they extract significantly more usable heat from the same amount of fuel compared to older models. The upfront investment may be hefty, but the long-term savings on your heating bills can make it well worth it. Check with home heating companies for applicable government incentives. Another key area to focus on is your home's insulation and air sealing. Even if you've done it before, checking the entirety of the exterior of your dwelling may yield huge benefits. Ensuring your walls, attic, and other areas are properly insulated can dramatically reduce the amount of heated air that escapes, cutting down on how much fuel you need to keep your home comfortable. Sealing up any cracks or gaps around windows, doors, and other openings can also make a big difference. Now, you may be wondering about the similarities between traditional home heating oil and some of the newer, renewable liquid fuels out there. Well, the good news is that many of these alternative fuels, like biodiesel and renewable diesel, can actually be used interchangeably with standard heating oil in most furnaces and boilers. Keep in mind that these “renewable” fuels are typically only partially renewable - still, each of them makes for a reduced fuel usage footprint. The chemical properties and combustion characteristics of these biofuels are quite similar to regular home heating oil, so they can often be blended together or used on their own without any issues. In some cases, these renewable options may even provide a slight boost in efficiency and performance, although, typically, the fuel will burn more quickly and is, typically, lower-priced. Of course, the availability and pricing of these alternative fuels can vary quite a bit depending on your location. It's definitely worth exploring if you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint and potentially save a few bucks on your heating bills. At the end of the day, there's no single silver bullet when it comes to cutting your home heating costs. By taking a multi-pronged approach - maintaining your equipment, improving your home's insulation, and exploring alternative fuel options - you can make a real dent in those sky-high energy bills. |
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