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What Kind of Oil Is Furnace Oil?

It’s the Same Product as Home Heating Oil

You might hear the terms furnace oil, fuel oil and home heating oil from time to time, perhaps even in reference to the heating oil that powers your boiler or furnace. But are they all the same product? Well, not exactly.

Fuel oil is the broader term since it refers to any petroleum product that can power a home heating system or an engine. Furnace oil or home heating oil has a stricter definition because it applies to the heating fuel your furnace (or hot water boiler) uses to heat your home.

All of these fuels are derived from crude oil during the refining process, which separates crude oil into different “fractions” while removing impurities.

The lighter fractions of crude oil eventually become propane, butane, and petrochemicals while heavier fractions are used to produce gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and No. 2 home heating oil. Even heavier fractions become No. 4 or No. 6 heating oils. This is used for commercial and industrial buildings, schools, and hospitals.

3 Types of Fuel Oil Products

Kerosene — A clear fuel that was first used to power oil lamps in the 19th Century, kerosene is made by distilling crude oil at extremely high temperatures. Kerosene has a low “gel point.” This means it can continue to work well in sustained freezing temperatures. That’s why it is typically used by oilheat consumers with mobile homes or outdoor fuel tanks.
Diesel —This is the fuel of choice for most commercial ventures. It can be used to power buses, trucks, forklifts, generators, farm equipment and boats. While there are two categories of diesel–on-road and off-road—there is no chemical difference between them. The only difference is their appearance, intended usage and price.
Heating oil — Petroleum-based home heating oil, also called No. 2 fuel oil, is essentially the same as off-road diesel. However, many homeowners and businesses in New Jersey can count on an even more environmentally-friendly product when they get a heating oil delivery.

Bioheat Fuel in New Jersey

In much of the country, heating oil has been reformulated with Bioheat® fuel, which is ultra-low sulfur heating oil that’s blended with renewable biodiesel. Bioheat fuel blends represent the future of heating oil in our country, and New Jersey is one of the leaders in making this clean-burning fuel available to heating oil consumers in the Garden State.

The most refined grade of heating oil available, Bioheat fuel is one of the cleanest burning heating sources for your home. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly and no changes to your existing heating oil system are necessary.

Why Biodiesel Is Carbon Neutral

The biodiesel blend in Bioheat fuel is composed of various organic products, including vegetable oils, animal fats and even algae. New studies have also shown the viability of using various grasses for the production of biofuel.

Biodiesel is considered a biogenic fuel that eliminates carbon output. By contrast, when traditional fossil fuels that do not contain biodiesel are burned, they take carbon that was stored in soil and put 100% of that carbon into the atmosphere.

The combustion of biofuels and other biogenic energy sources recycles carbon-dioxide emissions through renewable plant materials and other biomass feedstocks. That’s why you’ll keep hearing a lot about net-zero carbon emissions in the years ahead.

Find out more about the commitment of New Jersey heating oil companies to deliver clean-burning Bioheat fuel to your heating oil tank.

How Does a Furnace Work?

A Furnace Distributes Warm Air Through Vents

Furnaces can be powered by either fuel oil, propane gas, natural gas or electricity. Also known as warm-air or forced-air systems, furnaces produce heated air in the unit’s combustion chamber. Here is how that warm air gets distributed throughout your home.

Inside an oil-fired furnace, the fuel is mixed with air and burned.
The heat exchanger transfers the heat to the air, which is pushed through the heat exchanger by the furnace’s blower fan.
The fan blows the heated air through a network of air ducts before the warm air exits through registers or vents throughout your home.
Combustion gases are vented out of your home through a flue pipe.

The Advantage of Having a Furnace

Besides heat, the ductwork that connects with your furnace can provide other kinds of conditioned air, including through:

a central air conditioning system
a whole-house humidifier
an air cleaning system or air purifier

Differences Between Old Furnaces and New Furnaces

Modern-day furnaces can operate at a range of speeds and feature other efficiency-enhancing features including microprocessor-based controls, high-pressure flame-retention burners and durable heat exchangers. Here is a look at different furnaces operate, according to the U.S. Energy Department. The newer the furnace, the higher its efficiency rating, which is defined by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).

Older, low-efficiency furnaces:

Natural draft that creates a flow of combustion gases
• 56% to 70% AFUE.

Mid-efficiency furnaces:

Exhaust fan controls the flow of combustion air and combustion gases more precisely
Compact size and lighter weight to reduce cycling losses
Small-diameter flue pipe
80% to 83% AFUE.

High-efficiency furnaces:

Condensing flue gases in a second heat exchanger for extra efficiency
Sealed combustion
90% to 98.5% AFUE.

Learn more about efficiency ratings, furnace maintenance and more.

Replacing Your Old Furnace

If your furnace is more than 25 years old, or if you’ve had more than a few repairs in the last couple of years, it’s time to start thinking about replacing your heating equipment. As noted above, today’s high-efficiency furnaces provide extra heat more efficiently than units made a generation ago.

Higher efficiency means more energy savings, which of course translates into lower energy costs. This is why it pays to learn as much as you can about today’s high-tech heating solutions—and your heating oil service contractor can help you, with all of the latest information on new, high-efficiency heating oil furnaces.

When discussing your heating oil furnace replacement options with your heating expert, you’ll most likely learn about the importance of proper sizing.

Sizing refers to the heating system’s Btu rating. If your equipment contractor installs something too powerful (oversized), it will give you more heat than you need, wasting energy and money.
But if the system doesn’t have enough power (undersized), your home will not feel comfortable, and you will spend more on fuel because the heating oil furnace will switch on and off throughout the day.
To determine how much power your home’s heating system needs, an experienced heating-oil-system installer will do tests that show how much heat your home loses in the winter.

Find out how much you could save with a furnace installation.

Boiler Vs. Furnace: What’s the Difference?

How Heating Oil Furnaces and Boilers Work

Do you know if you have a boiler or a furnace in your home? You would be surprised by how many people don’t know the answer to that questions.

The fact is, the heating oil system in your New Jersey home can either be a furnace or a boiler. Both of these heating units will keep you warm, but there it’s worth knowing the difference, especially if a problem occurs.

If it’s something minor, you may be able to correct it yourself when you know how a boiler and furnace generate heat into your home. Plus, if you need to discuss something with a heating oil service technician, you will at least have a working knowledge about how your heating system operates.

How an Oil Furnace Works

Because it generates heated air, a furnace is also known as a forced-air or warm-air system. Here is how it produces heat.

the thermostat sends a signal to the controls on the oil burner.
the fuel pump then draws oil through a filter to the burner.
the burner turns the oil into a fine spray, mixes it with air and ignites it in the combustion chamber, causing the chamber to become very hot.
air absorbs heat in the heat exchanger.
a blower sends this air through ducts and exits through vents to heat the home.
the air eventually circulates back to the heat exchanger and the cycle continues.
combustion emissions are vented out the flue.

Maintenance for Your Furnace: Check the Air Filter

All warm air systems have an air filter to screen out dust and other impurities. In general, you should check the filter’s condition about once a month during the heating season and change/clean it when necessary.

How an Oil Boiler Works

Boilers use hot water or steam to heat your home. Another name for a boiler is a hydronic heating system, which is defined as a system that transfers heat via a circulating fluid, such as water, in a closed system of pipes.

Steam boilers can still be found in older homes, usually ones built before the 1950s. If you have this type of system, your boiler stays true to its name because it actually has to boil water to make steam before your heat can be distributed.

In comparison, newer boilers do not need to boil the water to make steam. Instead, they use hot water to distribute heat through a home’s piping. The heat from your hot water boiler is distributed through your home by either radiators or baseboards.

Because a boiler is a closed-loop system, water does not need to be constantly brought in or replaced, making it more efficient.

Some of the key components of a boiler system include:

a burner, where the heating oil is ignited in the combustion chamber.
a heat exchanger, which allows heat to be exchanged between two substances (fuel oil and water) while not allowing the two substances to mix together.
a circulator pump pushes the hot water from the boiler into the piping. A steam boiler doesn’t require a circulator pump because it doesn’t need to be pushed into the piping. Steam rises up the pipes naturally.
Piping, which includes supply lines to deliver the heated water (or steam) to the radiators or baseboards. When the water cools or the steam turns back into water, return lines bring the water back to the boiler for re-heating.

DIY Boiler Trouble-Shooting

If you’re not getting heat from a baseboard, check to see if the damper is open. Make sure the bottom of the unit isn’t blocked by heavy carpeting.
A radiator valve has only two positions, on and off. Keeping the valve’s handle in between does not regulate the temperature but can strain the pipes and produce a hammering sound.
For steam systems, check the boiler’s water gauge periodically. Low water levels are a leading cause for shutdowns. Steam boilers should also be “flushed” when the water in the gauge looks rusty. Ask your heating oil service company if you’re not familiar with this procedure.

General Heating System Tips

Keep the area around your system as clean and clutter-free as possible. Never store anything flammable near your system.
Keep registers, baseboards or radiators clean and unobstructed to ensure maximum air flow.

New Boiler Installation or New Furnace Installation

If you think it’s time to replace your old furnace or boiler, please contact your heating oil service company about your options for a boiler installation or furnace installation. Today’s oil boilers and oil furnaces offer homeowners a great opportunity to increase their comfort while decreasing their energy usage.

New systems now heat your home using significantly less energy compared to older-generation equipment. Energy-efficient equipment can be installed with controls to use only as much fuel as needed to heat your home or a specific part of your home.

Read about choosing the right equipment.

Bioheat® Vs. Heating Oil

Why Is Bioheat Fuel Better than Heating Oil?

Bioheat® fuel is one of the best ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the environment without sacrificing comfort or needing to undertake expensive, disruptive equipment replacements.

So how does Bioheat fuel compare to traditional heating oil? First, it’s important to understand that Bioheat fuel basically works the same as traditional heating oil. You can use it in existing home heating fuel systems without modification. But here’s the key difference: Bioheat fuel represents an enhanced eco-friendly alternative to conventional heating fuel.

You also don’t lose any heating power with Bioheat fuel. On the contrary, it burns much more efficiently, reducing heating system maintenance, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. And it has the highest Btu content of any alternative fuel!

What is Biodiesel?

Bioheat fuel is a blend of renewable biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur heating oil. Biodiesel is a gallon-for-gallon replacement for petroleum fuel. Biodiesel is made from organic and recycled ingredients like:

used cooking oil
animal fats
inedible corn oil
soybean oil
canola oil
algae

Bioheat Fuel and Lower Emissions

Blended with ultra-low-sulfur heating oil, biodiesel is an excellent and practical way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The combustion of biofuels and other biogenic energy sources recycles carbon-dioxide emissions through renewable plant materials and other biomass feedstocks.

Bioheat fuel cuts harmful greenhouse gas emissions significantly because biodiesel achieves emissions reductions of at least 50% compared to petroleum. Using Bioheat fuel instead of traditional heating oil means reductions not only in carbon dioxide, but in sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and mercury.

Bioheat Fuel: Made in the U.S.A.

The production process for Bioheat fuel has many benefits. It diverts waste products from landfills and puts them to good use. It also supports American farmers and biodiesel producers.

The production process puts excess oil and fats to good use. Food is never sacrificed for fuel in the production of Bioheat fuel. Bioheat fuel is sourced and produced right here in the United States, supporting local farmers, local industries and local economies.

Bioheat fuel has a significant advantage over other so-called “green” home heating products: it’s available right now and is currently offered by many New Jersey heating oil retailers. It’s heating both homes and domestic water today — all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat fuel, which will further reduce our carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.

In fact, the entire Northeast heating oil industry resolved to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2023, a 40% reduction by 2030, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We are well on our way along that path.

You may be able to enjoy all of its benefits right now with your next heating oil delivery. Learn more about the benefits of Bioheat fuel.

How Long Does a Water Heater Last?

Proper Maintenance Extends Water Heater Life

It’s impossible to stay comfortable at home without a reliable supply of hot water. As you know, people depend on it for showering and bathing, cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and more. But do you know how long you can depend on your current water heating system to keep you comfortable?

The life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years. (Tankless, on-demand water heating units last much longer because water is not constantly sitting in a tank being heated).

How long your storage tank water heater lasts depends on a number of factors, including the temperature of the water you set for the tank, the volume of water used, the overall quality of the water heater model, and perhaps most importantly, the water quality. Many people in New Jersey have to contend with “hard water,” which means your domestic water has a high amount of mineral content.

To head off any problems, especially if you have hard water, it’s a wise idea to call on an experienced heating oil technician to flush out your oil-powered hot water storage tank once a year. This procedure will remove sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank. This sediment is caused by the build-up of minerals. Your technician can also check the condition of the anode rod, which generally lasts from 3-5 years.

What Is an Anode Rod?

Storage tank water heaters contain many parts and components, including a long metal anode rod, which extends the life of your water heater by preventing corrosion from building up inside your tank.

Usually made of magnesium or aluminum, the anode rod does its job through a process called electrolysis. The metals in the anode rod attract ions that normally would cause rust in iron and steel. But instead, these ions latch onto the anode rod and as a result, cause it to degrade over time. Without the anode rod, your water heater could rust out in just a few years. That’s why it’s so important to replace the anode rod after it degrades.

Oil-Powered Water Heaters

A direct-fired water heater is the most common type, with a dedicated burner inside to heat water that is stored in a tank. As you use the water in the tank, the supply of hot water is constantly replenished.

On the other hand, an indirect-fired water heater uses the burner inside your boiler to heat your tap water. A typical design is a water tank with coiled pipes inside. These coiled pipes connect to your boiler. Hot water from the boiler passes through the coil, which heats up the water surrounding it. As you can see, the boiler water never mixes with the contents of your water heater. Because of this configuration, an indirect-fired water heater is highly efficient and just one example of why heating oil is a leader in efficiency.

Q: How Do I Know If My Water Heater Is Wearing Out?

A: Some telltale signs include higher water heating bills, water stains and unusual noises. If it takes longer to heat water than it used to, or the water doesn’t get as hot, these are also signs that you may be ready for a new water heating unit. A big trouble sign is a slow leak from your tank or rust on the tank or in your tap water. (A water tank rusts from the inside out).

If you think your water heater is failing, please contact your local heating oil company for advice about a water heater replacement.

How Does a Boiler Heat Your Home?

Be Better Prepared to Identify Any Boiler Problems

Since North Jersey has five times the number of boilers as the national average–South Jersey has 2.5 times as many– there’s a good chance you may be among the many homeowners in the Garden State who rely on a boiler to stay warm during the winter.

And with another heating season upon us, it’s a good idea to review the basics of how a heating oil boiler keeps a home warm. That way, if you run into heating issues over the next few months, you’ll be better prepared to discuss the situation with your heating oil service technician.

Types of Heating Oil Boilers

There are two main types of boilers found in New Jersey homes: a steam boiler, most often found in older homes, and the modern, and more energy-efficient, hot water boiler. Steam boilers require special safety precautions because of the temperature of the steam (the water must be heated to 212°F). As a result, it is vitally important to follow a regular maintenance schedule.

Your boiler extracts heat from heating oil as it burns; this heats the water (or creates steam) that will run through the zones that are calling for heat. The heat is delivered through your radiators or baseboards.

The problem is that some heat (as much as 30% in some older boiler models) will be lost as exhaust, which means you are paying a lot of money for heat that will never reach your living space. See how much you could save with a new boiler installation.

Condensing Heating Oil Boilers

A more efficient version of the hot water boiler is the condensing boiler, which is designed to keep heat loss to a minimum. By recycling heat from the exhaust process – and by operating at lower temperatures overall – your condensing boiler can improve operating efficiency by 10-15% compared to a non-condensing boiler.

However, a condensing boiler is not practical for all homes. Plus, condensing boilers cost more to manufacture. Installing a condensing boiler correctly requires highly trained technicians who know how to capitalize on the efficiency benefits of these sophisticated heating oil systems.

Maintaining Your Heating Oil Boiler

A tune-up allows your heating oil technician to fix minor issues before they become big problems (worn parts, etc.). Regular tune-ups can also help you conserve heating fuel over the winter.

Your professional heating oil technician will conduct many tests to make sure your heating system is running at the best possible efficiency. Any adjustments and repairs can be done after this initial evaluation. Here are some of the tests they may do:

CO2: Testing for carbon dioxide levels shows how airtight your heating system is. A high level of CO2 means your system has air leaks. Your technician will find and seal up those leaks.
Draft overfire and stack temperature: These two tests measure the amount of heat and volume of air going up the chimney.
Smoke reading: This test looks for smoke, which indicates a few problems, such as some of your fuel not turning into heat when burned. Second, smoke build-up in your system reduces its efficiency.
Draft at breech: This test measures the draft inside your heating system. If the draft is weak, it won’t vent combustion products properly. But a draft that is too strong sucks heat out of your home.
Total efficiency: Your professional heating oil technician combines all the readings taken while testing your heating system to give an overall efficiency rating for it.

Contact your local New Jersey heating oil service to find out more about arranging for boiler maintenance. You’ll get a more efficient system and peace of mind. And you’ll also be all set to go when winter returns to the Garden State.

What Is Heating Oil?

Heating Oil Is a By-Product of Crude Oil

There is a lot of work involved long before heating oil eventually reaches your heating oil tank. It starts with heating oil being refined from crude oil, which is a complex mix of hydrocarbons plus oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. The refining process separates crude oil into different “fractions” while removing impurities.

After refining, No. 2 home heating oil resembles the color of champagne. However, for tax purposes, regulations require that heating fuel be dyed red before it is sold so it cannot be confused with on-road diesel fuel, which is subject to tax. The dye has no effect on the fuel and how it burns. In short, diesel fuel and No. 2 fuel oil are virtually the same thing, in terms of their chemical composition. The dye is used to set them apart.

Speaking of similarities, there is also a No. 1 fuel oil, which is similar to kerosene but less refined. No. 1 fuel oil has a lower pour point, which means it won’t gel as quickly as No. 2 heating oil does in extreme cold. However, it produces fewer BTUs of heating energy than No. 2 heating oil.

How Heating Oil Gets to Your Storage Tank

After it is refined and ready for use, heating oil is transported by ship, barge, truck, and/or pipeline to major fuel terminals. It is distributed from these terminals to local heating oil companies. Many of these companies have their own storage facilities, which can hold thousands of gallons of heating oil. These company storage facilities ensure that an adequate supply of fuel is on hand during the cold months for people who rely on heating oil delivery to keep their homes warm.

Why Heating Oil Burns Cleaner Today

Home heating oil has progressively grown cleaner and more efficient, thanks in large part to vast reductions in the sulfur content of heating oil. Here is why this is important.

Ultra-low-sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) has 99% less sulfur in it than standard heating oil.
The changeover to ULSHO results in a reduction in emissions of over 70%, compared with the emissions produced by heating oil from the past.
A buildup of sulfur in the heating system can lead to system maintenance issues. The drastic reduction of sulfur means that there will be far fewer system issues, which will result in lower maintenance costs for heating oil consumers.
Because there is virtually no sulfur in the heating system now thanks to ULSHO, heating oil systems can burn the fuel more efficiently, leading to lower heating bills.
ULSHO opens the door for the introduction of super-efficient heating systems, which are already being used with great results in other countries that widely use ULSHO.

Heating oil has also been reformulated with Bioheat® fuel, which consists of ultra-low sulfur heating oil that’s blended with renewable biodiesel. Bioheat fuel blends represent the future of heating oil in our country.

Read more about the benefits of Bioheat fuel.

Is Heating Oil a Safe Way to Heat My Home?

Oilheat Provides Multiple Safety Features

Many families in New Jersey rely on heating oil to keep their homes warm. And they can do this with confidence, knowing that heating oil has always been a remarkably safe fuel.

Think about it. When was the last time you heard about an oil-heated home exploding? The reality is, home heating oil has an excellent safety record, especially considering that it has been widely used for nearly 100 years.

Let’s begin by looking at flammability. Heating oil is not only biodegradable and nontoxic, it is nonflammable too. That means it cannot burn in its liquid state. Before combustion can occur, heating oil must first be vaporized by an oil burner at temperatures above 140°.

That’s why the oil in your tank is as likely to explode as the water in your backyard swimming pool. It’s that safe!

Secure and Safe Supply with Your Oil Tank

With an oil tank on your property, you can always count on having a secure, on-site supply at your home. Heating oil is easily transported and handled by highly trained professionals using equipment and techniques that keep safety at the forefront.

Modern heating oil storage tanks have been designed to be virtually leak-proof. Whether your oil storage tank is located in your basement or outside your home, the tanks being installed today have been designed with corrosion-resistant materials.

Safety Net for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A heating oil system poses a very low risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. If an oil burner malfunctions (most often due to a lack of maintenance), the safety devices in the unit will typically shut the furnace or boiler off.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that heating oil consumers shouldn’t have working carbon monoxide detectors inside their homes, especially near all bedrooms. Besides a malfunctioning boiler or furnace, there are many other sources for carbon monoxide leaks, including:

operating unvented appliances for long periods of time
backdrafts caused by pressure imbalances near the heating system
leaving a vehicle idling in an attached garage
running a gasoline-powered generator in a basement or attached garage
a blocked flue

Make sure you check your carbon monoxide (and smoke) detectors regularly to confirm they operate properly!

Heating oil – the best and safest way to heat your New Jersey home! If you have any safety concerns or questions, please reach out to your local heating oil company.

Types of Heating Oil Boilers

Know What You Have & When to Replace It

The problem is that some heat (as much as 30% in some older boiler models) will be lost as exhaust, which means you are paying a lot of money for heat that will never reach your living space.

Condensing Boilers

Five Warning Signs

Like any piece of equipment, your boiler will eventually have to be replaced one day. Here are five signs that will help you determine if a replacement system is in order.

Age
If your boiler’s age is close to 20 years old–or older–you’ll save money on your annual heating costs by replacing it with a new, more efficient system. New oil boilers heat your home using significantly less energy compared to older generation equipment.
Signs of Corrosion
Just like your water heater, if you see outward signs of rust on your boiler, its time is running out. A professional inspection may also reveal damage to piping or other boiler components.
Your Comfort Levels
Is your old boiler keeping you warm enough? A properly working oil boiler should keep you comfortable even on the coldest New Jersey nights, but a boiler’s operating performance diminishes with the passage of time.
Your Heating costs Continue to Rise
Your boiler’s efficiency slowly degrades the older it gets. Lower efficiency means higher heating costs. Add in a higher number of repairs for an old system and this is another strong sign that you would do well to let go of your old oil boiler and upgrade to a new one.
Diminished Hot Water Production
If you depend on your boiler to heat your domestic hot water—and you’re not getting as much hot water as before–this could be a sign of a leaking or corroded coil on the boiler, a warning of potential boiler failure.

Understanding Today’s Heating Oil Systems

The latest oil boilers (as well as furnaces) are small, smart and super-efficient and can save you 20% or more on your annual heating costs. There are many different equipment options to fit your budget and your local heating oil company has expertise in all types and models of oil heating equipment.

To see how you can save on heating costs with a new, high-efficiency system, reach out to your local heating oil service provider and they’ll be glad to crunch some numbers for you. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much you could actually save. Equipment rebates for new boilers are also available! Read more here.

Ways To Conserve Energy and Save Money

Tips for Saving Money on Heating & Cooling

With energy prices painfully high and overall inflation rates draining cash from our pockets every day, most New Jerseyans are trying to save money whenever and wherever they can. With that in mind, why not examine proven ways you can cut down on air conditioning expenses right now–and then create a plan to conserve on your heating costs next winter?

There are actually many small yet important energy conservation methods that can add up to impressive savings over time. Here is a closer look at some of the steps you can take to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Be Diligent in Maintaining Your Heating Oil System

Regular maintenance is a vital money-saving investment for heating systems– not just because it can keep your equipment running safely and at peak efficiency, but also because four out of five heating system breakdowns are preventable if you follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations. A tune-up allows your heating oil technician to fix minor issues before they become big problems (worn parts, etc.). Regular tune-ups can also help you conserve on heating fuel over the winter.

Maintenance Tasks You Can Handle on Your Own

If you have a forced-air system (one with vents rather than radiators or baseboards), the most important self-maintenance task you have is to check your air filters regularly, cleaning or changing them when needed. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines. Clogged filters rob your furnace of efficiency by making it overwork to keep you warm; that means higher heating bills and more wear and tear on your equipment. Note: the same principle about air filters applies if you have a central air conditioning system in your home.

If you have an older steam boiler, check the water gauge periodically. Low water levels are a leading cause of boiler shutdowns. Steam boilers should also be flushed when the water in the gauge looks rusty. If you have a modern hot water boiler, the boiler’s automatic filling system should maintain the proper water level.

Smart Programmable Thermostats Save Energy

When used correctly, a smart programmable thermostat will pay for itself in just a short time. If you choose a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can control your home’s temperature from your smartphone. In the winter, the optimal setting is 68°F when you’re at home. Dial it down toward the 60°F range when you’re asleep or out of the house. Don’t go too low or you’ll risk frozen pipes. The temperatures you ultimately choose will depend on factors like the outdoor temperature and your family’s comfort preferences. Remember, these are just guidelines.

Weatherize and Insulate

This is also a good time to caulk any air leaks around exterior doors and windows. While you’re at it, replace door weatherstripping that might have worn away.

In terms of insulation, most homes are under-insulated. Adding enough insulation to meet recommended R-values is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your home’s overall efficiency and comfort. Read the Energy Department’s Guide to Home Insulation.

Use the Sun’s Free Heat in the Winter

During the cold months, keep curtains and shades open in sun-exposed rooms to absorb all that free heat and energy during the day, then close them at night to keep the heat in at night. Do the reverse in the summer by closing curtains and shades during the day to block solar heat. Smart window treatments can help manage solar energy throughout the year.

Close Fireplace Damper, Keep Vents & Radiators Clear

An open fireplace damper is like an open window; close it when you are not using your wood-burning hearth. You should also move any furniture, drapery or rugs away from air vents, baseboards or radiators. This helps improve airflow and keeps heat circulating into rooms.

To learn about how you can make a big impact on your home’s energy efficiency through upgrades to systems like high-efficiency heating oil boilers and heating oil furnaces, please go here.