According to data from the United States Energy Information Administration, some 6 million American homes rely on fuel oil as their primary source of heat. With the majority of these homes located in the Northeast, knowing how to properly prepare your tank for summer downtime is an important concern. We’ve already gone over in detail the basics of fuel oil tank maintenance— so in this post, we look specifically at why you should keep your tank at least half full at all times.

For a long time, thermostats remained one of the simplest components of a home heating system. Many people who live in older buildings still rely on manual thermostats, which allow you to simply dial in the temperature of your choice. While easy to use, this type of thermostat has a number of drawbacks, including its limited accuracy and inability to perform automatic temperature changes.

In recent years, digital thermostats have largely come to replace manual units. Digital thermostats offer greater precision, more programming options and, with the introduction of “smart” technology, the ability to make temperature changes over your home’s Wi-Fi network.

It’s summer time. The mercury is rising and you’ll do just about anything to keep cool.

Luckily, modern technology has provided us with a wonderful tool for beating the summer heat: Air conditioning! Not only do AC units keep our homes cool, but they also help us combat humidity, making us even more comfortable in the sweltering heat.

When we think of poor air quality, we may have associations of contaminants such as heavy metals from the freeway, factory emissions or that semi-truck blocking our view with black smoke coming out its top — mostly things that happen outdoors.

For many folks, summer means hitting the road and enjoying some time away from home. Whether you’re off to the beach, the big city or a tropical destination, taking steps to prepare your HVAC system before you leave can ensure you return to a fully functional home and not a costly repair bill. Here are some tips for getting your air conditioner ready for your summer vacation.

Any home or structure that has conditioned air running through duct work also has an air filter that needs to be changed regularly.

Many home heating oil customers worry that they may run out of fuel at the worst possible time: in the middle of winter when the temperatures are at their lowest. This can happen for various reasons. A colder than usual winter may require you to use more heating oil than you had originally planned. Also, a low tank during warmer months can lead to condensation at the bottom of your tank, which can cause a host of problems. If you’re like many of our customers who are extremely busy, you might forget to check your storage tank’s fuel gauge to see if the oil level is getting low.

Home heating oil technology has made significant advancements over the years. Heating oil is now considered to be as clean and efficient as any other fuel source. A properly maintained oil furnace will not produce any visible smoke or noxious fumes. Many home energy experts also view heating oil as the safest means of keeping a home warm. There is little risk of explosion and no worries that the furnace will become hot enough to cause a fire.

The key to ensuring safe operation of an oil heating system is proper and timely preventative maintenance. A team approach to maintenance works best: have your heating oil provider perform an annual inspection to detect signs of trouble, and be vigilant for oil leaks that are the telltale sign of damage.

Warm weather brings on the anticipation of fun and free time outside, and then the fun and free time outside make us anticipate the refreshingly cool air-conditioned house. It feels good to walk in and have that cold air hit us.

When it comes time to bring your car in for an inspection, you probably do it without thinking twice. After all, it only makes sense. An inspection ensures your car is still performing at its best capacity, and a service technician can alert you when parts need to be fixed or replaced.

Your home heating system is no different. However, unlike your car, which you most likely use daily, your heating system can sit for months without use. You would not trust a car that has sat for months unattended, so the same should go for your heating system. During those months, many issues could arise. Without an inspection, it has the potential to severely affect the life of your system.

When Should You Have Your System Inspected?

Although there are several different situations that would require your system to be inspected, we will focus on three important ones: