As the colder months come quickly rolling in, heating oil prices invariably start to rise. A lot of homeowners are worried about budgeting properly for their energy costs without having to forgo safety and comfort. No one wants to overspend when it comes to warming their homes. In this article, we will discuss some tips for saving money on your fuel oil costs for your Allentown PA home.
How To Reduce Your Heating Costs
Buy Heating Oil In Bulk During The Off-Season
The market for fuel oil has its ups and downs. The costs of heating oil tend to rise and fall according to the season. Nonetheless, there are fairly predictable patterns that these prices tend to follow. Fuel oil prices are typically higher in winter than they are in spring or summer. These prices peak from October through March. The key is to recognize the trends and to buy fuel oil at the best time. You have the best chance of saving money if you buy your fuel oil during a time when the prices are seasonally lower. Although we are already into the winter, you can plan and budget accordingly. Fill your tank at the end of the summer, before prices escalate for the season.
Tune Your Furnace Up
Before winter arrives, have preventative furnace maintenance performed by setting up an appointment with a trusted HVAC technician. Regular furnace maintenance ensures that your furnace is running energy efficiently all winter long. As such, this system will require a lot less heating oil in order to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Thus, your energy costs can stay low.
Reduce The Costs Of Water Heating
DOE research shows that approximately 12 percent of energy costs are the result of heating water. It isn’t always necessary to buy a brand new water heater in order to lower your spending in this area. This is something that you can accomplish by changing your water use habits.
- Spend less time in the shower
- Wash the majority of your laundry in cold water
- Try not to waste hot water
- Set the water temperature to 120 degrees F
Make Sure Your Home Is Energy Efficient
It’s possible to save a ton of cash on home heating costs by making your home more energy efficient. Following are a few steps you can take.
Optimize The Setting Of Your Thermostat
As per the DOE, thermostat settings should remain between 68 degrees F and 70 degrees F. This will lower your energy costs by as much as 2 percent for every degree that you lower your thermostat in the wintertime. You’ll be surprised by how much money you can save with this strategy. When you leave home or when you go to bed at night, you can reduce this temperature a few more degrees. There is no point in warming a home that no one is in during the day. Also, when you are in bed at night, your bedding should keep you warm.
By purchasing a programmable thermostat, you can optimize your savings. These thermostats are capable of automatically controlling inside temperatures according to the schedule that you set for them. As such, it won’t be necessary to remember to turn this unit up or down, given that the thermostat will make these changes on its own. You can come home to a heated home after work and you can get up in the morning to a home that is set at a comfortable temperature.
Seal Up Air Leaks
All homes have a gaps and cracks allow warm air to escape and cool air to seep in. These gaps are usually found around the doors and windows. They’re responsible for a significant amount of heat loss in winter. This forces home heating systems to work a lot harder to ensure comfortable temperatures. When this occurs, additional heating oil is used. Experts say that this loss is comparable to having a small window left open. Luckily, it’s possible to seal off these air leaks to block the cold air from coming in. Expandable foam, weatherstripping, and caulk are all great materials to use to this end.
Heating Oil Prices Allentown PA
Better Home Heat Council provides heating and energy resources for individuals throughout northeastern PA, including the Lehigh Valley. We provide useful information for homeowners and business owners that discuss the various advantages that come with using fuel oil. Here, you can find out about energy efficiency and how heating oil is considered one of the most energy efficient heating fuels available. BHHC also discusses topics that inform individuals on ways to improve the energy use in their own home or business.
By reading the resources that we provide, our audience is able to reduce their home heating and air conditioning expenses. We are also capable of connecting fuel oil consumers with many local oil companies throughout the Lehigh Valley. They offer a range of services and products, including the best Lehigh Valley heating oil prices and heating and cooling services. These services help reduce your energy bills while enhancing the comfort levels of your home. Click the button below to find a dealer that offers the best price of heating oil per gallon today.
Some of the areas we service include: Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Whitehall and these zip codes: 18101, 18015, 18042, 18052 as well as all surrounding areas in the Lehigh Valley.