Winter Heating Tips from Burt’s

Stay Toasty Warm This Winter While Keeping Your Heating Oil Use Manageable!

There’s no denying it—winter can be beautiful here on Long Island, from Southold to the rest of the North Fork and East End. It can also be bitterly cold. Fortunately, homes heated with oil enjoy some of the most robust, dependable warmth available. Each gallon of today’s heating oil produces over 138,000 Btus of heat energy.

That means your oil-fired furnace or boiler is more than capable of keeping your family warm, even on the coldest nights. Follow these five simple tips, and you can cut back on oil consumption without giving up an ounce of comfort.

Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

The average household can cut HVAC energy costs by up to 10% just by setting the temperature back 7°–10°F for eight hours a day. A programmable thermostat makes this effortless. Simply schedule lower temperatures for when you’re asleep or out of the house.

Stop Drafts and Air Leaks

Building a tight “thermal envelope” keeps warm air in and cold drafts out. That means a more comfortable home and fewer heating cycles, which reduces both fuel use and wear on your system. A few key tools can help:

• Insulation: Well-insulated attics, floors, basements, and crawl spaces hold onto heat. High R-value insulation can help reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Weatherstripping and door sweeps: If you feel drafts near windows or doors, these easy fixes can seal the gaps and block the cold.
• Caulk: Sealing cracks around stationary windows, doors, and walls helps prevent heat from escaping.

Inspect Air Filters Every Month

If your home heat runs on a furnace, staying on top of filter checks is essential during the coldest months. A clogged filter makes your system work harder, which can increase fuel use.

Check your filter monthly, and clean or replace it as needed based on your system type and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Schedule a Yearly Tune-Up

Routine maintenance is one of the smartest investments you can make for your oil-fired heating system, helping keep it safe and running efficiently. Regular professional service can also help reduce the risk of heating breakdowns and unnecessary fuel use.

During the visit, your technician can test system efficiency, calibrate the equipment, clean key components, and address any problems that could affect performance.

Consider a High-Efficiency System Upgrade

If your furnace or boiler is more than 10 years old, it may be worth thinking about replacing it with a newer, high-efficiency model. Today’s heating oil systems can provide dependable comfort while using fuel more efficiently, and many can pair with smart controls for additional energy savings.

Upgrading an older system can make a meaningful difference in both comfort and long-term heating costs.

Never Worry About Running Out—Sign Up for Automatic Delivery

Managing your home’s heating fuel shouldn’t be a source of stress. That’s where Burt’s Reliable comes in. Enroll in our free automatic delivery service, and we’ll monitor weather patterns, your home’s specific needs, and your past usage to help make sure you don’t run low.

No calculating your own consumption and no remembering to call for a refill—our team takes care of it all.

Contact Burt’s Reliable today to sign up for automatic delivery and enjoy dependable, worry-free heating all winter long.