Lower Your Heating Costs

Over the last few years, the cost of heating oil dropped dramatically to historical lows.  However, that is bound to change this winter, with several refineries in the United States offline.  As a result, you may want to take steps now to lower your potential heating costs this winter, especially if you use an oil boiler system that requires heating oil.

Winterize Your Home

The basics of winterizing your home is to make sure that you fill all cracks and gaps that could allow the heat to escape and allow cold air into your home.  By filling in these holes, your heat system will be more effective, lowering your costs.

The biggest source of air leakage in homes comes around doors, windows, and access hatches (like into the attic).  The main ways to prevent these air leaks is to caulk around your windows and door frames, and use weather stripping around thresholds and door bottoms.

You should also get your heater checked out before the winter comes, to make sure that it is in top working order.  Having an inefficient heater, or having dirty filters, can lower the performance of your heater and increase your heating costs.

Replace Your Boiler

A bigger project, but one that will totally eliminate your heating oil costs each year, is to replace your old boiler with a heat pump from www.thermasys.co.uk.  These heat pumps work by using a collector coil that absorbs heat from the bedrock, ground, or water under your house and yard.  Below a certain depth, the heat is consistent, which allows a heat pump and heat exchanger to use that temperature to heat and cool your home.

By using a heat pump, you eliminate the need to buy heating oil, which can save you up to 70% compared to traditional heating costs each winter.  These systems also tend to be low maintenance, since there are few moving parts outside of the heat pump, which is located in your home.