How to Save on Heating Oil While You’re Away: Simple Tips for Travellers
Whether you’re heading away for the weekend, or a longer term trip, there are some ways you can cut costs while traveling. During the cooler months, oil heaters can really bump up the power bill which costs you extra. It can be extremely frustrating and wasteful, especially if you’re away and not even using your home. However you need to find the right balance between saving money and ensuring your home stays healthy and functional. Keep reading to learn more about how you can save on heating oil while you’re away:
Do Proper Maintenance and Checks
Before heading away, be sure to do a quick check of your heating system, including ensuring that your heating oil tank is in good condition, doesn’t have any leaks or corrosion. This is especially important if you plan to be traveling during the cooler months and will leave the heaters on. Check your specific model to check how often a maintenance should be performed.
Lower the Thermostat
This is the easiest way to quickly reduce your heating oil bill as it sets a lower heating setting. However you need to find the right balance, because lowering it too much or switching it off, could mean that your pipes freeze over. A good temperature is around 10-13 degrees celsius, this will stop the pipes from freezing over but will limit unnecessary heating wastage.
Consider a Programmable Thermostat
If you don’t have one already, it may be time to invest in a programmable thermostat. This can help you save money by allowing you to customize the heating options. You can even set the thermostat to get warmer right before you get home from your travels, ensuring a cozy welcome home without having to endure the increased heating bills when you’re not even there. If you have a smart thermostat you will also be able to keep tabs on it while away.
Do an Oil Tank Check Before You Leave
There’s nothing worse than coming home to a freezing house with no heating available! It is a good idea to do a oil check before you leave and to ensure that there is more than enough for when you’re back too. After a long trip home, the last thing you’ll want to do is figure this out, especially if you’re dealing with jet lag. As such, we suggest doing a thorough check on this before you head out the door.
Repair Any Drafts
This may not be top of your list before you travel, but probably should be on your home care list to do before the thick of winter sets in. Drafts mean that the heating will escape, lowering the overall effectively of your heaters and ensuring that you have to use more to get the same result, which is even more frustrating when you’re not even there.
If you’re traveling during the cooler months, or planning to be away for a long time, it’s a good reminder to do some home maintenance around your oil heaters so that you can be certain no problems develop when you’re away. Adjusting the temperature and investing in a smart, programmable thermostat is a great way to have a lot more flexibility with your heating options while you’re away and can help you come home to a warm, cozy home. I hope these tips help you keep your home warm and healthy no matter the length of your travels.