This is the time of year when you want to stay comfortable, avoid problems and save money on heat. To help you keep from getting lost, we offer a few tips.

Smooth Road Ahead for Heating Oil

Oil heat continues to keep millions of homes warm and safe no matter the weather. What’s more, recent declines in heating oil prices and positive forecasts for stable prices in the foreseeable future have made oil heat an even more appealing option.

Additionally, the oil heat industry continues to undergo a revolution that is significantly improving oil heat’s efficiency and cleanliness, thanks to vast reductions of sulfur levels.

As a result, heating oil burns more cleanly, with lower emissions. You also benefit from better heating efficiency and easier maintenance, since low-sulfur oil creates fewer deposits on heat exchangers.

This is only the beginning. The quality of heating oil will get even better in the years ahead. And that’s good news for the environment — and for your pocketbook.

“Continued improvements in the quality of heating oil will help it burn more cleanly, with lower emissions, than natural gas.”

Tips to Avoid a Bumpy Ride

We want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your heating system. Here are a few tips on how to keep it running safely and efficiently.

• 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.
• If you have a steam boiler, check the water gauge periodically. Low water levels are a leading cause of shutdowns. Steam boilers should also be “flushed” when the water in the gauge looks rusty.
• If you have an oil furnace, change or clean the filters about once a month. Dust and dirt are the natural enemies of your furnace; a dirty filter compromises efficiency and can even result in a shutdown.
• Never set your thermostat below 60°. When your thermostat setting is too low, you risk frozen pipes. Water pipes near outside walls or in unheated spaces are especially prone to freeze-ups. The risk increases if cracks in your foundation allow cold air to enter your home.

EXTRA SAFETY TIP

Install carbon monoxide detectors near all your bedrooms.
Note: In the unlikely event that an oil heating system is emitting carbon monoxide, you’ll usually see smoke as a clue that something is wrong. A gas heating system does not issue a visual warning sign. Most leaks can be prevented through regular equipment maintenance.

Your Destination: Comfort and Savings

With all that you have to deal with during the winter, the last thing you want is to lose sleep over concerns that your old furnace or boiler is going to conk out and leave you cold.

When you purchase a new high-efficiency oil heating system, you’ll immediately eliminate those worries.

You’ll save a lot of money down the road too. A new system should help you save up to 20% on your annual heating costs. If you significantly improve system efficiency by upgrading from a really old system to a high-efficiency unit, your savings could be 40% or more! You’ll feel the difference in comfort. And you’ll also save on repairs, because you’ll minimize the potential of a breakdown, which is a common problem with older systems.

Continuing to heat your home with oil just makes sense. Today’s oil heat is cleaner, greener and more economical than ever. The latest oil heating systems are small, smart and super-efficient. And there are many different equipment options out there that can fit your budget.

Up Ahead: Endless Hot Water

Many of our customers now use their boilers not only to heat their homes, but to produce hot water for showers, hot tubs, washing machines, dishwashers — you name it. And they get it virtually free in the winter.

It’s called an indirect-fired water heater, and if you have a boiler, it can be a phenomenal option.

Anytime your boiler is heating your home, your indirect water heater works for free. It’s like having your cake and eating it too. A traditional stand-alone water heater has to use gas or electricity to keep that water hot. And that’s a huge waste of money.

If you have a gas or electric water heater that is 10 years old or older, check out an indirect — and less expensive approach — to heating your water.