If you are interested in trying to keep your bills down and want a way to keep track of your finances in general, you can carefully examine the cost of keeping your home warm. By asking yourself, How Much Heating Oil Am I Actually Using?, you should be able to nail down your usage and determine how you can save money during the coldest part of the year. With a regularly updated spreadsheet, you can determine where the changes need to be made.
The amount of heating oil being used depends upon several factors, one of which is the outdoor temperature. During mild periods, you are likely to use only a fraction of a gallon per hour. If the weather turns bitterly cold, however, you’ll use a lot more fuel. It’s always best to consider your general climatic region to determine what the average usage might be for your area.
The size of the house will also have an impact on usage. Very large homes with several bedrooms will obviously require more fuel to keep the temperature at a certain level. Smaller residences will use less fuel and thus the overall cost will be much less. Square footage can be used as a good starting point for figuring out an estimate.
Keep in mind that an older oil furnace that has less efficient component parts will usually use up more fuel than a newer model in the same amount of time. Changing out a very old furnace for a new one can give you much better efficiency, which you’ll notice over the course of several months. For people who live in very cold climates, this means saving a bundle of money from fall to spring.
You’ll generally want to keep your tank as full as possible. Letting it continually run down to near empty can potentially lead to a build-up of sludge, which can be a serious problem. Keep your tank topped off and always make sure that it has several gallons of oil in it, especially during the height of winter when temperatures can drop off quickly.
Some companies will be able to deliver oil to you if you get into a pinch. While diesel and kerosene are often considered viable substitutes if you must use a holdover, you should only ever buy these fuels from a quality gas station that you can trust. Make sure you return to traditional heating oil as soon as possible.
Always ensure that your tank receives regular maintenance so that it remains viable for as long as possible. Fixing small problems before they develop into bigger ones will save you money on both parts and labor. This money can then be saved for other household renovations or modifications that you want to move forward with.
You will ultimately want to keep careful track of your heating oil usage in a number of ways. By keeping an eye on the tank level and factoring in things like weather, house size, and efficiency, you should have a pretty good idea of when you’ll need to add oil. You’ll be able to stay warm and cozy through the winter.
