This winter season has been a fairly mild one for Long Island residents. We’ve avoided bad winter storms well into February. Still, anything can happen, and we should be prepared for ice and snow throughout the winter season into early spring. Just because we’ve avoided a string of bad winter storms doesn’t mean we haven’t had many cold days and nights requiring us to turn up the heat in our homes.
With the uncertainty in the economy for the past several months, many of us have been looking at our monthly bills to find places to save some money, including from our home heating costs. So, how do we lower our heating bills without sacrificing our comfort?
Does Turning the Heat on And Off Cost More?
Turning your heat all the way off when you don’t need it has been shown not to be cost-effective. That’s because when you turn your heat all the way off for periods of time when it’s colder outside, your house’s temperature will drop to around 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer, give or take, than outside. For example, your home may hover around 50 degrees if the temperature dips to about 40 degrees outside and your heat is off. As a result, if you turn your heating on trying to get your home back up to 65 degrees, it’s going to take much more energy to heat your home a full 15 degrees warmer than if you had your heat on and it was keeping your home closer to 65 degrees already.
Plus, letting your home’s temperature drop that low has other risks. For example, water pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, crawl spaces, etc. can freeze on cold days even when the home’s interior temperature is 50 degrees.
What Should I Set My Heat to At Night?
The temperature should be lowered at night as your body has an easier time falling and staying asleep at slightly lower temperatures than during the day. It is recommended that the temperature in your home be at or around 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day hours. Then, it can be lowered to anywhere between 67 to 60 degrees when you sleep. You should avoid turning off your heat at night outright in the winter months, even if the temperature isn’t supposed to drop too dramatically.
Should You Turn Off the Heat When You’re Not Home for Prolonged Periods?
In the winter months, turning off the heat when you’re not at home for long periods of time can end up being very costly and lead to damage throughout your home. That’s because elements of your home can only withstand dropping so low in temperature before they get damaged.
One such element of your home that is particularly vulnerable is your water pipes. If your pipes reach 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below, your pipes will likely burst. This could quickly turn a long weekend getaway during a cold spell into a costly home expense leading to water damage across your home. It is recommended to keep your temperature 55 degrees at the lowest to avoid frozen pipes and other complications.
Express C.O.D Is Long Island’s Source for Low Priced Home Heating Oil
As a trusted name in home heating on Long Island, we provide 5-star service for our customers during and after business hours in addition to offering the best pricing in residential heating oil. By ordering online and managing your own oil deliveries with COD oil services, our costs are significantly reduced, resulting in big savings for you! We can even deliver your oil the same day if your order is placed before 10 am. Contact us today and start saving on your heating oil!
