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. 

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?

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.

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.

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.

If your home heating system runs on oil, then you rely on your oil tank to safely store and protect that oil. Unfortunately, oil tanks aren't impenetrable, so you may experience the common problem of water making its way into your tank.