How Much Heating Oil Does a House Use Per Year?

Let Southville Help You Plan Ahead

The “heating season” used to start in late October in our area, but over the past few seasons it’s been much less predictable. With temps in the 70s well into November, people may find their heating costs will be lower this year simply because they didn’t need to crank up their heat until much later in the season. That makes it trickier to predict how much heating oil you might need—and how much you might spend—over the course of the winter and early spring.

Of course, there’s no crystal ball for winter weather, and every home is different when it comes to insulation and staying warm. So how can you budget for your winter heating oil needs?

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 to 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.)

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. But a new heating system may not be in your plans this year.

Energy Efficiency Is Easy

Here 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. Regular maintenance can also prevent problems that can decrease performance and efficiency, or that could lead to breakdowns, no-heat emergencies, and expensive repairs.

More Ways to Save

Southville offers 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.
• 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
• We also offer a Capped Price program that limits how much your price can rise, but not how far it can fall. If the retail price drops below the capped price, you pay whichever is lower.

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, and on-time deliveries. Find out why so many homeowners and businesses across central Long Island choose Southville. Contact us for more information or to schedule a delivery today.