Depending on your heating needs, oil can be an excellent fuel choice and many homes use oil for heating. If you already have an oil furnace or you are considering investing in one, it’s a good idea to keep these four things in mind.
1. Your Oil Tank Needs Attention
Oil tanks wear with age, just like any other part of your heating system. They should be inspected regularly to be sure everything is intact and able to safely hold fuel. Otherwise, you could be facing a leak and an expensive remediation process. This is especially true of tanks that are underground. Schedule oil tank testing Westchester County NY to find problems before they get out of hand.
2. Oil Prices Can Fluctuate
Home heating oil prices can fluctuate wildly over the course of a single winter heating season. Talk with your supplier about a budget billing option. This lets you pay a set amount each month to cover the estimated costs of your annual fuel deliveries. Filling up the tank before it gets too low can also help reduce sticker shock.
3. Fuel Oil Is Considered a Safe Choice
If the idea of having natural gas piped into your home keeps you up at night, you can rest easy with oil heat. It is generally considered much safer than gas since oil does not combust in liquid form.
4. Heating With Oil Is Greener Than You Think
While many people think of heating oil as dirty, it can be an environmentally friendly choice. Today’s oil furnaces are very efficient, which means they will use less fuel to produce the same amount of heat compared to older models.
Keep in mind that oil is a safe and surprisingly efficient way to heat your home. Having your tank inspected annually and planning for price fluctuations can help you keep the cost of heating with oil down.