Heating oil tanks accumulate thick, gel-like sediment, also known as sludge, over time. Every few years, as the sludge begins to grow, you might find yourself unsure of what to do. Is it a big problem? Do you need to clean it? Is it so bad that your tank needs replacement? Don't let heating oil sludge cause you stress this winter. Be proactive by cleaning your tank or calling in a professional to take that sludge off your hands.

Heating is a significant undertaking in most homes. Heating costs more and consumes more energy than any other household system, generally accounting for around 42% of a home's utility bill. You need your system to run efficiently to give you the most value for your investment. 

Your home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system needs regular maintenance all year long. When you keep up with your air conditioner and furnace, you can save money on your utility costs and have a more reliable unit. This guide will explain the importance of annual HVAC maintenance and help you develop a plan for how to take care of your heating and cooling appliances each season.

The air inside your home could be two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors due to dust, pet dander, cleaning products and bacteria. Low indoor air quality (IAQ) can worsen allergies and upper respiratory conditions, and a moist environment can keep mold and bacteria in your living space, increasing your potential for getting sick. Since you spend a lot of time at home, it is beneficial to consider ways to improve the air you and your family inhale each day — and one way is with the help of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Everyone wants to be healthy and keep their family healthy. However, not everyone realizes the risk that HVAC-borne germs can pose for their loved ones. Efforts to combat HVAC germs in hospitals have drawn media attention because antibiotic-resistant germs have begun to appear in the air in hospitals and because hospitals are designed to house people who are sick and thus contagious.

Are you ready for autumn? Although you've already packed up your summer clothes and set up your fall decorations, there's still much to do to prepare for the colder temperatures that accompany the season. Even though cold temperatures are right around the corner, many homeowners ignore fall furnace maintenance. In fact, fall furnace maintenance is exceedingly important, because no homeowner wants to be without heat on a chilly autumn night.

Millions of American homes rely on heating oil to keep them warm during colder months. Heating oil, also known as fuel oil No. 2, has a distinct oil smell, but in most cases, it is well-contained. That means you typically won't notice the smell at all, or will only catch a faint whiff just after getting your tank refilled. When you note a strong oil odor, it is probably due to a more severe issue such as a spill. 

As winter comes to an end and we start moving into the warmer spring months, most people aren't thinking about their heating oil levels or when they need to place an order to replenish the supply the used during the cold winter months. Today, companies transport more than 3.2 billion gallons of heating oil to homes in the Northeast every single year.  Where does all that heating oil come from and how does it get to your house?

Winter energy bills can send us running for cover. Specifically blanket covers, because it's cold and because we want to hide from the number on our statement.

For many homes in the United States, an oil furnace is the preferred source of heat. As a natural source of warmth, an oil furnace can provide well-distributed warmth throughout all the rooms in a house. For the furnace to work when you need it most, you must have it serviced at least once per year. The following reasons best summarize the importance of furnace maintenance.