Energy Efficiency: How to get the most out of your heating oil
As the temperature starts to drop, and the summer duvet gets replaced with its thicker sibling, the question of how to make your fuel go further, for cheaper may cross your mind.
As the temperature starts to drop, and the summer duvet gets replaced with its thicker sibling, the question of how to make your fuel go further, for cheaper may cross your mind.
That’s exactly what we’ll answer in this blog. There are many ways you can maximise your fuel efficiency, from alternative, performance-driven fuel types and good habits you can adopt, to quick, cost-effective solutions and maintenance procedures. Let's get into it.
What can you do now?
Often there are many things you can do right now to help your fuel go further, without breaking the bank:
Lower your thermostat by just 1 degree - One easy habit to introduce is setting your thermostat just one degree lower than you normally would. Even on the chilliest of days, you more than likely won’t notice a difference. Doing this can reduce the amount of fuel you use, keeping you warmer, for longer.
Check your home is ready – While home improvements can sound scary, rest assured that these suggestions aren’t. Making sure your home’s insulation is in good condition, and gaps in windows and doors are filled effectively can reduce heat loss. Additionally, ensuring your radiators are bled, when necessary, can help decrease your fuel usage, resulting in gradual savings.
Ensure your boiler is healthy – Your boiler will naturally be working harder during the colder months. Such heavy usage can cause unwanted carbon fouling from increased fuel usage, and there’s always potential for wear and tear. While we recommend you have your oil boiler serviced every 12 months to ensure optimal performance, there are some visual and audible checks you can make to gauge your boiler's overall condition.
- Check for any leaks in the pipe work,
- Listen for any unusual sounds during operation,
- Keep an eye out for pressure changes,
- Monitor the flame.
If you’re thinking about getting your boiler checked over before winter arrives, or even installing a more efficient boiler, have a chat with our Heating Services team, who will be happy to help.
Easy lifestyle changes – Making simple adjustments to the way you use your home can make the world of difference over time. Something as small as turning your heating off in areas of the house that are unused, making sure your doors and windows are closed in the rooms you’re heating and avoid painting your radiators can go a long way to reducing your fuel usage.
Top tip: Naturally when cooking, your oven will dispense heat throughout your kitchen, which can leak into your other rooms too if you leave your oven door open after cooking.
Explore fuel alternatives.
If you’re thinking about going the extra mile, maybe it’s time to consider an alternative to standard home heating oil (kerosene). K+, often known as premium heating oil, has a range of benefits compared to its standard counterpart, from an increased combustion rating to the potential to clean your boiler and remove unwanted carbon deposits, making your fuel work harder when you need it.
Consider a Payment Plan.
At Rix, we understand that winter can be tough, particularly with the demand for fuel during this period affecting prices. With a Rix payment plan, you can spread the cost of your heating oil over monthly instalments, reducing the financial impact frequent bulk orders will have. Interested? Learn more about our payment plans here
All things fuel tanks.
Every drop of heating oil is precious during winter and storing it effectively can make a huge difference to your usage, and your wallet. Implementing a heating oil tank to your property gives you the ultimate peace of mind.
So, what impact does storing heating oil have?
Reduced wastage – minimise oil leaks and spillages, which is an unfortunate reality that impacts both your safety and your pocket too. Installing a fuel tank ensures you always have enough fuel to keep you warm, without losing any.
Cost-savings – Purchasing fuel in larger quantities during the off-season, or when prices are lower can lead to cost savings compared to buying fuel in smaller, more frequent quantities during the winter when demand and prices may be higher.
Safe and Secure – Heating oil theft is a real threat you should be aware of, unfortunately, it does happen when prices become volatile. Bunded fuel tanks are generally the safest type of fuel tank for home use, with them being ‘double-skinned’ the surface is much harder for a thief to penetrate. You can go even further than that by installing a threat detection alarm, for that extra layer of security and peace of mind.
Discover more about fuel tanks here.
With these tips and tricks, you and your home will notice the difference this winter. If you’re ready to order your heating oil, now is the best time to do so! We’ve got an exclusive winter offer running at the moment, awarding 10 lucky winners with 500 litres of Kerosene, accredited straight to their account. Don’t miss out!
Order now, or learn more about our exclusive offer here.
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