The simplest ways to make heating oil last longer are to heat the house only when people are home, stop warm air from leaking out through drafty windows and doors, and keep your heating equipment running efficiently. You cannot do much about the price of oil besides shopping around, but you can control how fast your Connecticut home burns through a tank.
Heat the House Only When Someone Is Home
Many people heat their homes at full temperature all day, even when nobody is there. Lowering the thermostat to about 60 degrees while the house is empty, and raising it again when people return, cuts the hours your burner has to run.
A programmable thermostat makes this easy because you do not have to remember to turn it down on your way out. You can also set it to warm the house shortly before you wake up, so the morning is comfortable without paying to hold that temperature all night.
Close Vents in Rooms You Do Not Use
If you have a spare room that sits empty most of the winter, close its heating vents and keep the door shut. There is little reason to pay to heat a room nobody is in.
Find and Seal Drafts to Make Heating Oil Last Longer
Gaps around windows and doors can cost more than you think. Every bit of warm air that escapes is oil you have already paid for. On a cold, windy day, hold your hand near window sashes, door edges and thresholds and feel for moving air.
Weatherstripping, caulk and door sweeps handle many small leaks. Our guide on what to do about drafty windows walks through more ways to track them down and reduce them.
Replace Windows That Cannot Be Sealed
Some windows are simply past the point where caulk and weatherstripping help. If the frames are warped, the sashes are loose or the glass is always cold to the touch, energy efficient vinyl replacement windows can stop the drafts for good. Spending money on new windows may feel counterintuitive when you are trying to save, but a tighter house uses less fuel every winter after that.
Do Not Forget the Doors
An old front or back door can leak as much air as a bad window. If you can see daylight around the edges, or the door no longer closes snugly, a new insulated entry door or patio door will seal far better. Adding one of today’s storm doors gives the entry a second barrier against winter wind.
Keep Your Furnace or Boiler Efficient
Heating equipment that is serviced regularly burns oil more cleanly than equipment that is neglected. If your furnace or boiler is old and has become unreliable, ask your heating contractor whether upgrading makes sense. Modern furnaces and boilers generally use less fuel than older models to produce the same heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I set the thermostat to when I am away?
Around 60 degrees is a common setback for an empty house during the day. It saves oil while keeping the house warm enough to recover quickly when you get home.
Do drafty windows really use more heating oil?
Yes. When warm air leaks out and cold air comes in, your heating system has to run longer to hold the same temperature, and that burns more oil.
Should I fix drafts or replace my heating system first?
Start with the cheap fixes: thermostat settings, weatherstripping and caulk. If drafts remain after that, the windows or doors themselves are usually the problem and are worth a closer look.
Stop the Drafts Before the Next Cold Snap
If your windows or doors are letting the heat out, Aladdin Inc can take a look and recommend replacements that fit your home. Our family-owned company has been working on Connecticut homes from Wallingford since 1949. Call (203) 776-9996 or contact us to request an estimate.