By now, if you haven’t already purchased your winter heating oil for your home, or you recently bought your first heater that uses heating oil or a type of natural gas. Although many companies advertise same-day heating oil delivery, they can also sell out of stock, especially when winter temperatures plummet. Where does heating oil fly off the proverbial shelves?

Popular Areas for Heating Oil and Gas Heaters
Oil heated homes continue to prevail among designs in the northeastern part of the U.S. In areas like Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont, cold weather often includes raging snowstorms that can knock out power, negating electric heating. Fireplaces alone can’t typically handle the frigid temperatures, so residents use furnaces and portable oil or gas heaters to make their abodes toasty.

Non-electric Heater Options
Would you like to buy a portable oil or gas heater to bolster the safety of you and your loved ones during winter? Consider a heater that uses oil, like kerosene or camping oil, for home heating backup. Some options use canned gases, such as butane or propane, to fuel a heater. Unlike oil-fueled heaters that require heating oil additives, these options only need a canister of gas to operate.

Tips on Maintaining a Whole-Home Furnace

The weather outside is starting to get frightful, which means you’re going to need to make sure your furnace is working if you want the inside to stay delightful. With temperatures continuing to drop, a functioning heating system will help keep you and your family warm this upcoming winter. So whether you hear noises coming from the furnace or haven’t looked at it in a while, here are some tips that will help you and your family stay warm during the harshness of winter.

Have a Heating Repair Expert Look Over Everything
We don’t expect you to be a heat and air expert, but for about $80 to $100, a technician will inspect your furnace to be sure the system is clean and in good repair. These inspections are the best way to make sure your furnace achieves its manufacturer-rated efficiency. An added bonus: inspections also measure carbon-monoxide leakage.

Keep an Eye on the Furnace All Winter Long
Just because your furnace works at the beginning of winter, doesn’t mean it will make it all the way through the season. Up to 75% of furnace maintenance calls in the winter are related to a lack of upkeep, according to HVAC experts. A furnace can stop working suddenly if left unserviced, leaving your family in the cold. Furnace maintenance is important all year round, but it is especially important during the winter.

Thermostat Maintenance
While you might not think about the thermostat when you think about furnace maintenance, they are a key in helping control your heating costs. Winter is cold, but it isn’t always freezing, which you need to keep in mind on mild days and nights. You can save around 5% on your heating costs for every two degrees you lower your thermostat, which is important to keep in mind during winter’s warmer days.

Know What You’re Paying For
It’s no surprise but heating and cooling is the largest energy expense in most homes as it accounts for about 48% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home. This means it is not something to take lightly, and be sure of what kind of warranty your heating company has on furnace repairs. Most heating and cooling companies offer low-priced, preventive maintenance service contracts ? costing on average between $70 and $100 ? in which they?ll clean and service your HVAC unit and replace your air filter.