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.

As the weather gets colder, your home must have plenty of heating oil in the oil tank.  The best way to avoid running dangerously low on heating oil is to monitor the level in your tank regularly. You can do this by consulting your oil tank gauge and conducting manual inspections of your oil level with a gauge stick.

No one enjoys paying higher home heating bills during an unusually cold winter or spending the extra money on increased electric bills due to the hot summer months. As expensive as monthly energy costs are for homeowners, however, they generally represent a more significant expenditure for businesses with large facilities.

A propane-powered home can be very energy efficient during winter. Compared to other heating options, propane generally heats homes faster with less fuel consumption. Preparing your propane tank and home for the winter can help you take advantage of the savings and fuel efficiency of propane.

Propane is an energy-efficient fuel that serves as an alternative to regular gas in homes throughout the United States. While some homes come with propane tanks, it's also possible to retrofit regular tanks to accommodate propane fuel. If propane is your fuel of choice, you can lower your household heating costs by stocking up on propane in the summer months, when demand is low and the fuel is typically available at discount prices.

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.