Tips for keeping your home warmer this winter

New oil-fired equipment is highly efficient, and keeping existing equipment functioning at its peak can save energy dollars as well, according to the New York Oil Heating Association. Properly maintained boilers and furnaces can operate at higher temperatures while burning less fuel, thereby reducing a consumer’s heating bill by up to 10 percent. In addition to the option of automatic delivery based on degree-day usage, consumers may want to consider the financial benefits of a budget payment plan for their energy purchases that can spread out fuel oil costs at the same monthly level throughout the year. Easy ‘dos’ to save heat Open shades and drapes when the sun is out to let it help warm your home. Close them when the sun goes down; Turn back the thermostat at night or when you are away from home; for every degree you lower your thermostat for eight hours or more each day, you’ll save two percent on your heating bill; Wrap your pipes to guard against heat loss and prevent them from freezing; Stop drafts by eliminating any gaps between your door and the threshold on the floor; Use a bottom seal that can be attached to the bottom of the door - it should brush up against the floor to seal up the threshold; Caulk or re-caulk exterior spaces between the windows and walls of your home; Close your kitchen vent, fireplace damper and closet doors when not in use; If you have central air conditioning, close your vent(s) to the outside; Remove air conditioning window units, or cover them to keep cold air outside; and, Keep radiators and registers free of dust for top efficiency. Easy ‘should dos’ to save heat Replace heating systems that are more than 20 years old; Upgrade your oil furnace or boiler — modern versions can cut costs by as much as 15 percent; Replace your furnace’s or boiler’s fuel economizer; Make sure you have good insulation on exterior walls, ceilings with cold spaces above, and floors with cold spaces below; and, Install or close storm windows. Consider new glass designed to decrease radiant heat loss without lowering visibility. For more, visit www.oilheatamerica.com.