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Step 1
Lets explore this from two different perspectives. Your either A) A homeowner who would like to save money on heating oil, improve your home, and are ready to invest serious money or B) A renter who wants to save money on heating oil or a home owner who wants to save money by minimally investing in a solution. There are solutions that work well for both but well start with A) A homeowner who would like to save money on heating oil, improve your home, and are ready to invest serious money
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Step 2
You may be losing a lot of money because heat is escaping through the walls because of a lack of insulation or inconsistent insulation. You can hire an independent company to come in and find weak spots in your homes insulation and repair it. This can be expensive but is a more permanent solution to your problem. You may also decide to lose the oil heater and go with natural gas which is also a big investment.
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Step 3
For those in both categories you can take steps to prevent heat loss by weatherizing your house. You can buy a kit (inexpensive) with the supplies to put plastic on the inside of your windows and taped to your window frame with double sided tape. When your finished with one window watch how much the plastic bubbles out. This is where heat is escaping as well. Like I said the kits are cheap and almost anybody can do this.
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Step 4
Another option for both is to find a good median temperature for your furnace. This is a temperature that will keep the furnace from shutting on and off all day which sucks up oil quick. Usually 66-70 degrees Fahrenheit is a good place to start.
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Step 5
Last summer many oil users panicked when oil was on the rise. They locked into ridiculous oil rates and were forced to pay them all winter while gas slid back down under the two dollar mark. Try to use intuition if your going to lock a rate for the winter. Less than two dollars is a really good deal but don't get scared when gas hits four dollars and start calling the oil company. As we now know gas can only go up so much before people reduce their use of petroleum products. This causes supply to go up and forces down the price. Don't get into lock rate contracts with oil companies unless the contract states you will not be obligated to pay a higher than market cost. Locking rates is you taking a gamble that oil prices will not go back down. That's a risky gamble!
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Step 6
If late at night your house all of a sudden cools down you may be out of oil. Don't panic. Unless its really cold try to stick it out till morning. Late night emergency oil delivery is extremely expensive. To protect your plumbing and pipes from bursting turn the water slightly on to a drip. This will keep water moving through the pipes until your heat is functioning again. When you get your oil ask the deliveryman to prime your furnace (if you don't know how) he wont charge you. It is a simple but important step to getting your furnace going again.
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Step 7
I hope this article helps you save some money. Following these steps can help you use less oil while retaining a warm house. Good Luck!!!
