Home heating oil is a great way to stay warm and cozy in winter. More than 28 million people in the US have installed the system in their houses. There are many benefits of using home heating oil, such as it is completely safe, efficient, convenient, and easy to use. In spite of too many advantages, there is one thing that the consumers don’t like. It’s the heating bills. That is why all the consumers want to find a way to save their heating bills. If you are the one who is looking for the same, then this is the right place to get answers. In the guide, we have covered the steps that you must remember for managing home heating bills this winter.
One of the most effective ways is to turn up the heating system before the arrival of winter. It helps to reduce the cost, benefit the environment, and conserve energy. There is less chance to get heating oil at a discount price as the rates always went up and rarely, fell. Most of you might be thinking that you have already used many methods for saving heating bills, but none of them works. It is because you may don’t notice the small things that can change everything. So, let’s discuss the vital aspects to remember to manage home heating bills.
- Checking the fireplaces
Every house has a hole or chimney to the outside. Therefore, it becomes necessary to check whether the damper is tight or not. You can also use fireplace covers in the form of glass windows. If you think that you are not going to use the fireplace in the winter, then consider buying two-inch rigid foam insulation. Plug it to the fireplace to closing the open place. For doing the task, you can try different methods. The best one we recommend is to attach a small piece of rope next to the plug.
- Looking for air leaks
One of the major reasons why you end up paying higher heating bills is air leaks. It can occur even though the smaller cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and pipes. A perfect way to seal the electrical outlets is to choose the right plug gaskets and then install them on the outer side of the passage. If you are living in that country where you can get heating oil at a discount price, then you might want to skip this step. Well, following the process will help you to save the environment.
- Sealing the doors
Doors can be the major problem as they cannot be sealed. They are going to be open several times a day and will bring cold air with them. You can use the weatherstrip around the doors to seal the leaks from outside the door. One can also take fabric material for doing the same task.
- Installing a programmable thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat will cut down the further rise in the temperature. In this way, you can reduce the heating bills. The device also provides finer control over the heat, and don’t forget to turn down the system or lower the temperature at night. It will help you to save around 150 dollars a year, according to the report by experts. The programmable thermostat is easy to install and help you to maintain the temperature of the house.
- Lower the thermostat, lower the heating bill
Those who are worried about the heating bills can set the thermostat at a low temperature. For each degree you low on the thermostat will help you to save one to three percent of the heating bills. If possible, try to get heating oil at a discount price to ensure that you can also save on oil as well as the bill. Another great way to find why the heating bills are so high is to have an energy audit. You can fix the unit by own or by taking help from the professionals.
To summarize, all these are the top ways that will help you to manage a home heating bill this winter. Always ensure to keep the vents unobstructed and clean to seal the room that you don’t use.