Oilheat: It's All about Energy Conservation!

Oilheat is a great fuel for people who like to conserve energy and natural resources.

Oilheat conserves energy through efficient operation. Each gallon delivers a robust 139,000 BTUs of thermal energy, and today's advanced equipment minimizes waste. Manufacturers have incorporated modulating burners, secondary heat exchange and advanced controls to improve comfort while burning less oil.

Oilheat is also adapting to the need for cleaner fuel and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. New blends that incorporate renewable biofuel and reduced-sulfur heating oil "may well become the preferred fuel for lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.," according to the Energy Research Center.

By blending petroleum heating oil with biofuels, Oilheat taps into renewable sources in order to extend supply, decrease demand for imported oil, and support American agriculture and alternative fuel production.

FREE Heating Efficiency Analysis

Call or contact us for your free heating efficiency analysis. We will come to your home at a time that's convenient for you and evaluate your heating system to see whether the heat it is producing is, literally, going up the chimney ... or keeping you and your family warm. There is absolutely no charge for this service, and you are under no obligation to purchase new equipment.

Our free heating efficiency analysis is a wise move if you will be remodeling your home, or if you will be buying a new home in Charter Oil's service area. But it's also a good idea for anyone considering a heating system upgrade, especially if you feel that your current equipment is not working up to par.

Conservation Advice

At Charter Oil, we want you to use less energy. Using less energy means spending less money and reducing your carbon footprint. We're always happy to offer you advice on how to cut fuel costs and enjoy a cleaner, greener comfort system. Just ask us! And take a look at the energy tips below for every season of the year - we're sure you'll find lots of good ideas you'll want to put into place right away.

Seasonal Energy Saving Tips

Winter ... spring ... summer ... fall ... at Charter Oil, we have lots of easy tips to help you save energy all year long. Some don't even require you spending a penny! Take a look at the advice below, and don't forget to consider our FREE heating efficiency analysis.

Cold Weather Tips

Insulate your hot water tank. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you insulate the tank or water heater and the first six feet of hot water pipe.
Have your heating system tuned. A well-tuned boiler or furnace burns 5% less fuel.
If you have a furnace, clean or replace the air filter once a month to ensure the best airflow and efficiency. Make sure that furniture or draperies do not block vents.

Upgrade your heating system. Homeowners who have older Oilheat systems can lower their fuel costs by 30% or more by installing a new, high-efficiency system. New designs incorporate technologies like condensing and multi-stage operation to squeeze every ounce of heat from the system. The savings provide a remarkable return on investment that keeps paying off year after year - every time the weather turns cold.
Sunshine! Open shades and drapes during the daytime and close them when the sun goes down.
Seal off your attic-circulating fan with polyethylene and tape.
Wrap your pipes to guard against heat loss and prevent them from freezing.
Avoid using space heaters. They're expensive to operate and can be dangerous.

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Warm Weather Tips

Keep drapes, blinds and shades closed during the day to block out the sun.

Clear furniture away from air conditioning vents.
Install an attic fan - it can cool your attic by nearly 30 degrees!
Plant shade trees due west of west windows. It could reduce your air conditioning bills by up to 25%!
Cook on the outdoor grill to keep cooking heat outside the home.
When cooking inside, use a microwave instead of a conventional oven. It uses less than half the power and cooks food in about one-fourth the time.
Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.

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All-Year Tips

These tips can help save energy in every season.

Install a digital programmable thermostat. It puts your heating and cooling systems on an automatic schedule: full heat or cooling during hours when the home is active, and less when the house is empty or the family is asleep. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says that setting back a home's temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day can reduce total heating and cooling costs by 5% to 15%.

Insulate thoroughly to eliminate heat transfer through your walls, ceilings and floors. You could reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 15%, according to Consumer Energy Council of America.
Replace outdated appliances with high-efficiency units to reduce energy consumption.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use only 25% as much energy and last 10 times as long.
Reduce water heater temperature setting to 120 degrees to save fuel. (You'll also reduce the risk of scalding.)
Add caulking and weather-stripping around doors, attic access, windows, outdoor faucets and any areas where there might be leaks. (As much as 40% of your heating and cooling costs can be due to air leaks.) Check caulking at least once a year and replace material that has dried out and shrunk.
Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls. (Gaskets can be found in most home improvement stores.)
Check weather-stripping and door sweeps at least once a year and repair or replace them as needed.

Repair and weatherize your storm windows.
Close off rooms you don't use - and remember to shut the vents inside.
Install dimmer switches. In addition to enhancing the mood, they'll extend the life of your bulbs and help you save up to 60% on your lighting costs.
Install motion activated switches that automatically turn lights on and off.
Install water-conserving fixtures, such as showerheads, faucets and toilets.
Fix leaky faucets, especially hot water faucets. One drop per second can add up to 165 gallons per month - more than a person uses in two weeks.
Take showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water; filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.

Keep ductwork in good repair by sealing leaks with mastic, metal-backed tape. Your home could be losing up to 25% of its heated or cooled air before it reaches the vents!
Install ceiling fans. They could cut your energy bill for cooling by 40%.
Use efficient temperature setting for your refrigerator and freezer. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees for the refrigerator and 5 degrees for the freezer.
Don't leave the fridge door open! Every time you do, up to 30% of the air inside can escape. The same can be said for your oven.
Use less water and use cooler water when doing laundry. The warm or cold water setting on your machine will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy use in half.
Consider air-drying clothes on clotheslines or drying racks. Clothing manufacturers recommend air-drying for some fabrics.
Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it's faster and uses less energy.

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