How To Save Money With Your Furnace

Did you know that you use about 80 percent of your heating oil or propane for the year between mid-November and mid-March? That can make for some pretty high bills during those months (unless you’re a Jennings E-Z Pay customer, in which case you’ll pay the same amount month after month no matter how much fuel you use).

But there’s a lot you can do to reduce the amount of fuel you use in your Connecticut home during heating season. Here are some sensible choices and investments you can make that will keep your heating bills as low as possible in the cold weather months.

Home Heating Efficiency Checklist

• Reverse your ceiling fans – Use ceiling fans during winter? You bet! Ceiling fans push rising warm air back into the room, helping you to keep the room warmer with a lower thermostat setting. Just be sure the fan is spinning clockwise: check your fan’s owner’s manual to see how to reverse your fan’s direction.
• Take advantage of the sun – Open curtains and blinds in sunny rooms to take advantage of solar gain during the day, then shut them at night to keep that heat in.
• Weatherize – You lose about an open window’s worth of air through cracks and openings around external windows and doors; use caulk, weather stripping, door sweeps, and plastic sheeting to minimize heat loss and drafts.
• Change your air filters regularly – Clogged filters put stress on the compressor, leading to higher bills and eventually mechanical failures. Check filters at least once a month during winter, cleaning or replacing them as needed.
• Install a smart thermostat – According to the U.S. Department of energy, you can save as much as 10 percent on your bills by setting your thermostat back 7°-10°F for eight hours a day from its normal setting. The easiest way to do that? Use a smart thermostat, which allows you to control your home climate from your phone.
• Have your thermostat tested – An inaccurate thermostat could be costing you; have it checked and calibrated by a professional each year (this should be included in your annual heating tune-up – see below).
• Get a tune-up every year – Professional preventive maintenance will often pay for itself in efficiency improvements alone. It will also help your technician to spot small problems before they turn into expensive repairs, or safety issues that could eventually pose risks to your family.
• Upgrade your insulation – Insufficient insulation will make your heating system overwork to keep you warm. For some guidance on where and how much to insulate, check out this link from the Department of Energy.
• Have your ducts tested and sealed – Studies show an average of 11.4 percent of the hot air produced by a forced air system escapes through ductwork flaws before ever reaching your living space. Have your ducts inspected every five years, sealing them when needed.
• Upgrade old equipment – Older heating systems can operate at efficiencies that drop into the 60s – 30 percent lower than most modern furnaces and boilers. That inefficiency can cost you thousands of dollars over the years – more than enough to justify the cost of a heating system upgrade. A modern furnace is more reliable, runs more quietly, and will keep you more comfortable for less money every month.

For great ways to save money on energy bills this winter, ask the pros at Jennings Oil & Propane. Contact us today to learn about our high efficiency heating equipment installations, heating oil and propane deliveries, and professional heating services in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties!