Five Tips for Saving on Home Heating, That You Can Warm Up To!

NEW YORK -- A hefty home heating bill can bring the chill of winter right back down your spine. While it's easy to think that oil costs are solely dependent on the oil market, there are numerous ways to save by being smart about using your heat. We knew the best people to talk about heating efficiency would be industry experts, so we talked to our friends at Slomin's. Here are five tips they recommend to save money on heating this winter.

1. Invest in More Efficient Equipment

You might not notice obvious problems with your furnace, but you are likely paying more for your equipment's inefficiency if the unit is older than 15 years. In addition to the significant savings you'll receive on your heating bill, newer, more efficient equipment will save you stress and money when it comes to service labor and parts fees. A Slomin's heating representative can walk you through what "R value" to look for when shopping for new equipment and can show you how much money our newer, energy-efficient models will save you.

2. Don't Gamble on a Warm Winter

The record-low cold spells that have rattled the country over the past few winters might seem like a freak occurrence, but they indicate the necessity of preparation regardless of what the winter holds. Hoping for moderate weather between November and February will leave you in the cold when you experience equipment breakage from erratic temperature changes. The best way to plan for any situation is to add a service contract to your heating oil agreement. A Slomin's service contract will give you 24/7/365 emergency service and can cover parts and labor costs if your equipment fails.

3. Maintain Your Equipment YEAR ROUND

Beyond emergency assistance and service parts and labor, a Slomin's service contract offers each customer a preventative maintenance check on his or her equipment. The best time to schedule this system check-up is in the off-season, when you don't rely on your unit for basic warmth. Our experts will be able to assess and address any issues with your equipment to keep you cozy when you need the heat. Following manufacturer's instructions for your unit and scheduling an equipment check-up with Slomin's are the best ways to prepare for whatever the winter might dish out.

4. Conserve Your Hot Water

It's easy to focus so much on turning down the thermostat during the winter that you forget how much your hot water contributes to your heating bill. A couple of easy tricks, like using a low-pressure shower head and even turning down the thermostat on your hot water heater a few degrees, will save you money without significantly impacting your daily routine. Above all, our professional installers at Slomin's can help you navigate through a maze of efficient hot water heater options to show you which model will work best for your home and water use. Trust an expert to ensure you aren't heating more water than you actually need.

5. Go with the Savings

When looking for an oil company, it's important to identify which one is passing on as many savings as possible to the consumer. This will give you an indication of how the company will treat its customers after they sign a contract. Jason Salzman, President of Slomin's agrees that it is important to use a reputable oil company, "An oil company should be committed to providing low-price, quality heating oil to its customers without gimmicks. Depending on how much oil you use in a year, a price difference of a nickel can save you hundreds of dollars. Since Slomin's is a full-service oil company, we can also provide you with immediate access to emergency service in brutal weather."

Sponsored content provided by Slomin's