Dont Be Caught Out by Rising Home Heating Oil Prices

  • Added:
    Nov 23, 2012
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    2328
  • Word Count:
    454

If you own one of the 2.8 million homes in the UK that doesn’t have access to a mains gas supply, then oil may well be your primary source of heating. With winter coming on, many people are becoming more concerned about the price of central heating oil. It is not unusual for oil prices to see a spike in the winter as demand increases.

Higher prices have a major effect on the household budget at a time when there are plenty of other demands on your cash, so if you can it pays to buy early so that you can avoid the rises. This also means you’re safe from any delivery problems that may arise as a result of bad weather or increased demand. If you can’t buy early then it pays to shop around with prices varying between suppliers and discounts being offered for purchasing larger quantities.

Don’t just focus on buying fuel though, become a fuel fighter with these great tips. If you can it pays to make your home more energy efficient in order to cut down the amount of fuel you use too. Check to see if your insulation needs topping up; many electricity suppliers are currently doing this for free or you may be able to get help from the government’s Warm Front scheme. There are other simpler measures you can take too, adding draught proofing to your windows and doors for example or using heavy curtains to keep the heatin. Don’t cover radiators with curtains though as this just channels heat into the gap between the curtain and the window.

Controlling your system efficiently can help to make savings too. Turning down your thermostat may sound obvious but it really does help, even a one degree reduction can make a significant saving of around 10%. If you have thermostatic valves fitted to your radiators you can ensure a lower temperature in bedrooms or parts of the house that are used less often. Note though that it’s important to have one radiator without a thermostatic valve to ensure efficient operation of the system.

Before winter sets in make sure you have your boiler serviced by a qualified technician so you can be sure it’s working at its best. This should also give you peace of mind that it won’t let you down when you need it most.

No one likes to pay more than they have to for fuel. But by shopping around, making sure you order your oil supplies in good time and taking a few simple energy efficiency measures you can stay warm this winter without placing too much strain on your domestic finances.

If you’re buying home heating oil this winter, it pays to shop around to find the best deal.

Author's Profile

James Charles is a frequent contributor for fuel fighter and has written many articles pertaining to all things regarding domestic heating oil, energy saving tips especially on such subjects as making the best of your precious boilerjuice for your heating requirements.


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