Smart Touch Energy Blog

Home heating costs are among the most significant cumulative expenses that homeowners incur over a year. For residents who rely on oil-based heating systems, there are various ways to lower your heating costs. Some of the simplest aspects of home maintenance can give you a lower heating bill. Depending on the condition of your oil tank, you might need to perform some system maintenance to reduce heating bill hikes. This article covers 20 different ways to reduce heating costs.

Wintertime is fuel time for homeowners with oil and propane heaters, both of which are common features in homes along the northeast U.S. As outdoor temperatures get colder, indoor heating costs typically go up because this is when fuel is in high demand. When homeowners approach this season unprepared, most are left to fill their tanks at the most urgent of times. Consequently, many of these people have to cope with extra fuel charges and emergency delivery fees.

The thought of winter tends to bring on mixed feelings for most people. We picture serene scenes of sparkling snow and icicles, on the one hand, and harsh winds and hazardous conditions on the other. Even if you love winter, the reality is that winter weather can cause problems and can threaten your safety at times. Winter storms, in particular, can sweep in and potentially cause panic if you're not ready.

Oil tanks store fuel oil for heating systems on commercial and residential properties. They can be above-ground or underground, but even if you can see yours, you may be asking yourself, "How do oil tanks work?" Let's take a closer look at oil tank parts and how they work together to help heat your home.

Knowing what influences heating oil prices can be one of your best ways to plan a winter budget that keeps your home happy and warm.

Heating oil seems like a simple system on the surface, but there are many local and international forces at play when it comes to setting the price you pay. You’ll have to consider what drives crude oil prices and factors affecting demand and supply of oil prices to understand the pricing you’ll end up paying to heat your home.

We’ve chosen the top 5 factors affecting oil prices that you can easily review and monitor. Knowing what determines oil prices or how they could potentially rise next winter will help you create a budget that your family needs.

During the fall and winter months, oil furnaces are vital to the comfort of many homeowners in the Northeast. Once the warmer weather has passed, the onslaught of autumn makes it essential to have a functioning furnace. If anything, you should have a furnace that will raise your interior to sufficient temperatures and do so evenly throughout the house with no noises or smell.

Whenever you schedule to have your oil or propane tank refilled with fuel, you are calling for a service that is not generally a DIY task. Understandably, you are putting your tank in the hands of professionals who know how to handle the task at hand. You, however, are the expert on the layout of your property and how to best navigate from your driveway to the location of your heating fuel tank.

The weather is getting colder, and winter will be here before you know it. When you're preparing your home for cold weather, make sure you also get your oil tank ready for the winter season. This guide provides you with the tips you need to keep your oil tank functioning and your home warm and cozy throughout the winter.

As summer draws to a close and signs of autumn slowly start to appear, you may be thinking that it's time to get a head start on equipping your home for winter. One of the most important ways you can prepare for the upcoming winter months is through checking your furnace for signs of wear and considering the repair or replacement of a broken system.

In many homes throughout the Northeast of the United States, oil tanks provide heat to families. Oil tanks are built to last for decades and can hold anywhere from 250 to 1,000 gallons of oil, depending on the size of the tank. However, problems can occur with this type of heating system as age, and the elements take their toll on the body of the tank.

One of the common issues that arise with oil tanks is the formation of leaks. When a leak opens up along the body of a tank, petroleum oozes to the outside. Such leakage can inflict a range of harmful and damaging effects. Unfortunately, such damage is rarely covered under conventional homeowner's insurance policies. For coverage, you need to have an oil tank insurance policy.