Shut the door good and hard
To hold heat indoors and keep the cold outdoors, all four sides of the door need to be weather tight - a tricky balance because the door will stick if it's too tight. Rubberized weather stripping around the edges of the door that compresses slightly when the door is closed makes a tight seal to keep out the cold winter wind. Your local hardware store is a great source for all kinds of weather stripping products.
Of course, a weather tight storm door and a weatherized solid door make a great combination. The storm door forms a first defense against wind, and the trapped air between the doors makes a very effective "dead air" insulation barrier, too.
Here are a couple more things to keep in mind. If you have an eighth of an inch gap at the bottom of an average 36 inch wide door, that's the same as having a hole in the wall about the size of half dollar coin. Think of all the cold air that can blow through a hole that size non-stop, 24/7, all winter long.
Now keep in mind that the average open door makes a 21 square-foot hole in the wall that lets cold air come rushing into your nice warm house. So whether you're entering or exiting, you'll save on your heating bill if you're quick about it. Don't linger in the doorway, and make sure you have your car keys so you don't have to come and go twice.
Spend time with your thermostat and spend less on fuel
It doesn't cost you a single penny to change the setting on your thermostat. But turning your thermostat down can definitely save you money. And, you don't have to be cold, either. You can control your thermostat "spending" if you can develop a few wise habits.
When you're home, adjust your temperature setting by moving it just two degrees at a time. Give it a try. Or if you're calling for heat, simply raise the setting on your thermostat slowly. Stop when you hear your furnace kick on.
Lower the thermostat setting when you go to bed, raise it at breakfast. (Replacing your one-setting thermostat with a day/night thermostat or changing the settings yourself can save you as much as $100 a year if done correctly and consistently.)
Lower the thermostat setting when you leave for work, raise it when you return. If you turn your thermostat down five degrees when you're not at home, you can save about 5% on your annual heating bill.
It's important to remember that when you do lower the thermostat don't go overboard. It takes a lot of energy to raise the room temperature from 60 degrees to 68 degrees. Lowering your thermostat setting to 64-65 degrees is just about right.
Is money leaking out of your windows?
It's easy to tell which windows are the troublemakers. And leaky windows can slowly rob you of hundreds of dollars worth of heat over the course of a few heating seasons. To test which windows need help, simply cut a narrow strip of very light plastic about a quarter inch wide and 15 inches long (plastic dry cleaning bag material works very well). Tape the strip to the top of a pencil and hold it a few inches away from the window on a windy day. Be sure that your window is closed and locked. If outside air is blowing into the house, you'll see the strip moving.
The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to fix the problem:
Maintain: You can improve the integrity of your windows with some simple maintenance. Caulk around loose panes. Add weather stripping between sashes and sills.
Enclose: You can reduce leaks and improve a window's insulation effect by stapling or tacking a tight layer of polyurethane plastic sheeting on the outside. For extremely troublesome windows, you can apply plastic sheeting to the inside as well.
Replace: If there is still a lot of leakage, window replacement might be the only permanent solution. Ask your local lumberyard or building supply dealer for information on replacement windows. Keep in mind that replacing windows is easier in the summer, and typically less expensive to install, than it is in the winter.
Don't forget to check your basement windows, too.
A new Oilheat system could be 40% more efficient
How old is your heating system? You may be surprised to learn just how efficient Oilheat systems have become over the past 20 years. Upgrading an old system to a new one is an investment that can pay for itself in a relatively short period of time. Installing a new flame retention oil burner can save 15%. Upgrading to a modern Oilheat system can save up to 40%. The money you save on fuel can pay for the upgrade. Home equity and home improvement loans make financing easy. Just imagine: If you have an old system, you could cut the number of gallons you use each winter as much as 40%. And, if you're like most Maine homeowners, your local bank will be happy to talk with you about a home improvement loan – especially since you'll be saving money and building the value of your home.
A heating system tune-up will save you money
To get the most value from the heating oil you buy you should call your oil dealer and schedule an annual tune-up of your heating system. Having your system tuned up will ensure that it is running properly and at peak efficiency. That can mean saving as much as 5% on fuel. Many oil dealers have their own professionally trained and certified Oilheat technicians who can service your furnace or boiler. Or they can recommend a reputable heating system company. Remember, the best time to schedule this important job is during the spring and summer. Once the temperatures begin to turn cold in the fall, Maine's oil dealers become very busy keeping you and four out of five Maine families supplied with heating fuel. Call your oil dealer today for more information.