How Much Heating Oil Will I Need This Winter?

Pitstop Has Tips to Help You Plan Ahead

While the official first day of winter isn’t until late December, the “heating season” starts much sooner around here—in November or even late October. The earlier the heat goes on, the more customers start to wonder how much heating oil they will need for the season. While the Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a much colder winter in the northeast, the NOAA—the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration—is predicting a warmer, wetter season. Of course, there’s no crystal ball for winter weather, and every home is different.

High efficiency heating equipment in a well-sealed and well-insulated home will use less fuel than an aging boiler or furnace in a drafty house, no matter how cold it gets. As a general rule of thumb, a heating system that’s running properly should use between 0.8 and 1.7 gallons of oil per hour during cold weather. Improving efficiency is a proven way to keep your fuel use on the low side of that range.

Save Energy, Save Money, Stay Cozy

Some people hear “save energy” and think it means turning down the thermostat and layering on the sweaters instead of feeling comfortable in their home. While that’s one way to do it, a smarter way to stay warm all season while keeping heating costs under control is with energy efficiency. That means making it easier for your furnace or boiler to do its job. The harder it has to work to warm your home, the more fuel it will burn. (That’s why good insulation improves efficiency.)

There are a few easy, no-cost things you can do to improve efficiency:

• Keep drapes and blinds open during the day to capture solar warmth, and close them at night to keep heat in.
• Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to keep heated air down where you can feel it.
• Use your smart thermostat or programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature based on your schedule. Setting it for a lower temperature night, when you’re under the covers, and when you’re out all day, can have a significant impact of heating costs.

There are also several low-cost ways to make your home more efficient:

• A weekend of DIY projects, like sealing up drafts with caulking, weatherstripping and expanding foam, can help save you 20% or more on heating costs.
• Change the filter in your heating system. A dirty air filter can restrict air flow, making your heating equipment work harder to heat your home. That uses more fuel and increases bills.
• It’s never too late to schedule seasonal maintenance for your heating equipment. A tune-up keeps your heating equipment running smoothly, so it will use less fuel to keep your home warm. Our service technicians check for and fix problems that can decrease performance and efficiency, or that could lead to breakdowns, no-heat emergencies, and expensive repairs.

If it’s time to replace your heating equipment, investing in a high-efficiency heating system is an investment that can drastically cut energy costs, while improving your comfort for years—and improving the value of your home. The pros at Pitstop can help you choose the best equipment for your needs and your budget.

More Ways to Save

We also offer plenty of options to help you manage costs no matter what happens with prices or how cold it gets.

• Our Budget Pay plan spreads home heating oil costs over 11 months, so you can avoid bills that spike in the winter.
• We also offer a Pre Buy Plan that lets you lock in your price by buying your fuel for the year upfront. You take advantage of lower off-season pricing, and eliminate the worry about the price of fuel going up.
• Our Fixed Price plan lets you lock in a set price for the season. No matter what happens with fuel prices, your price won’t go over the fixed amount.

Both the pre buy and fixed place programs are closed for the current season, but ask us to alert you when you can sign up next year.

No matter how much heating oil you may need, you want a company that puts customers first. That inherently means offering fair, transparent pricing, but it also means offering true reliability, with products and services designed to make your life easier. Find out why so many homeowners and businesses across southern Maine choose Pitstop. Contact us for more information or to schedule a delivery today.