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Stretch out your payments
The Energy Information Administration advises homeowners to consider budget payment plans that help stabilize your monthly energy bills. Many local providers have established programs that help you manage your winter energy costs.
At Rhoads Energy, for example, our program spreads a customer's payments for heating oil over 11 months. The idea is to help the homeowner avoid a big bill for a single oil delivery in the dead of winter.
Depending on your situation, there are a couple big-ticket items you may want to consider. According to Energy Star, a government program, replacing older windows with new high-efficiency windows will save the average homeowner $350 a year in our region. If heating costs rise, those savings would increase.
Finally, if your system is more than 15 years old, you should consider the benefits of a new, high-efficiency heating system. Newer oilheat systems operate at 84 percent efficiency or higher, which can result in savings of up to 25 percent in heating costs, according the Energy Department. Replacing older natural gas systems and heat pumps can offer similar benefits.
More and more homeowners are exploring this option. This year, Rhoads Energy installed more new systems than ever before, and other local providers have reported a similar experience.
Plug the gaps
While you still have time, make an effort to seal your home. Use weather stripping on doors and windows - among the most common locations for heat loss. Also, check to make sure you have adequate attic insulation, or have a professional do it.
These simple steps can pay off big. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, you can reduce your heating and cooling needs by up to 10% by investing in proper insulation and sealing air leaks.
A couple other areas in your home get less attention, but can be responsible for significant heat loss. First, check to make sure your heating ducts are insulated. If not, your home may be losing up to 25% of its heat before it ever reaches the vents, according to the National Oilheat Research Alliance.
Another often-neglected area: the chimney. Have a professional check your fireplace for loose or missing mortar, which can lead to heat loss. Also, make sure your damper closes tightly. If not, your chimney will be letting warm (and expensive) air escape all winter long.
Will it take time to follow these steps? Sure. But you may be handsomely rewarded by the savings you'll receive over the coming winter.
Michael DeBerdine, III, is president and CEO of Rhoads Energy, a family-owned energy provider that has been based in Lancaster since 1917.
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