When the temperatures drop and the New England wind starts to howl, the last thing you want is a cold house, or worse, a heating emergency. Whether you’re a seasoned or new homeowner, it is important to prepare your home heating system for winter. Fortunately, a little upfront effort can save you big on repairs, fuel costs, and headaches later. From annual maintenance to smart oil ordering, here are a few simple home heating system checks.
DIY Checks to Prepare Your Heating System for Winter
Before you call a professional or place your first oil order, complete these simple, high-impact tasks that help ensure your heating system is ready for heavy use. These pre-season checks are free, require minimal tools, and are the best way to improve efficiency right away.
Schedule Annual Home Heating System Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is the single most important step you can take to prepare your system for the winter workload. Scheduling an annual tune-up helps ensure peak efficiency, extends the life of your equipment, and significantly reduces the risk of a mid-winter breakdown.
- Change or Clean Your Air Filter: This is the easiest thing you can do for an oil-fired furnace. A clogged filter restricts airflow, forcing the system to work harder, which wastes energy. Replace or clean it monthly during the heating season.
- Inspect the Area: Ensure your oil boiler or furnace is clear of clutter, dust, and flammable materials. A 2-foot clear radius around the unit is recommended for safety and easy access for maintenance.
- Test the Burner Startup: Turn up your thermostat to confirm the system attempts to fire up. For oil systems, you should hear the burner motor start, followed by the ignition electrodes and the sound of the oil combustion. If the system fails to start after a few attempts, call your technician.
After completing the initial prep work, a licensed HVAC technician can perform a comprehensive safety and efficiency inspection, which is critical for oil heating systems to ensure safe combustion and clean operation.
Bleed Radiators and Check Vents
Air trapped inside radiators prevents hot water from circulating efficiently, leading to cold spots and unnecessary boiler strain. For forced-air systems, airflow restrictions can dramatically reduce heating effectiveness and put strain on the furnace fan. Checking both radiators and vents ensures heat is distributed evenly throughout your home.
- Bleed Radiators: Use a radiator key to slowly release any trapped air until water starts to come out. Always start with radiators on the lowest floor and work your way up.
- Clear Vents: For forced-air systems, ensure all supply registers and cold air returns are completely open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs, or drapes.
- Test Heat Flow: Once the system is running, place your hand over the supply vents or radiators to ensure the air or surface is warm and that you have strong airflow.
Upgrade Your Thermostat for Efficiency
Modern thermostats, especially smart or programmable models, offer a simple yet powerful way to reduce your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. By automatically adjusting the temperature based on your schedule, they eliminate wasted energy when you’re asleep or away from home. This one-time upgrade can pay for itself quickly through lower heating bills.
- Install a Programmable Thermostat: Set the heat to lower 7℉ to 10℉ degrees for at least eight hours a day to realize savings of up to 10% on your heating bill.
- Utilize “Smart” Features: Newer models learn your routine and adjust temperatures automatically, or allow you to control the settings remotely via a smartphone app.
- Check Battery/Settings: If you already have an electronic thermostat, check the battery and confirm the programmed schedule is set correctly for the upcoming season.
Seal Drafts and Insulate Problem Areas
Heat loss through gaps, cracks, and poorly insulated areas is one of the biggest drivers of high heating costs. Addressing drafts and improving insulation allows your home to retain the heat produced by your furnace or boiler more effectively. This ensures your system runs less often and maintains a steady, comfortable indoor temperature.
- Seal Windows and Doors: Check for cold air leaks using the “hand test” and apply weatherstripping or fresh caulk to seal the gaps around frames.
- Insulate the Attic: Adding or topping off insulation in key areas like the attic, basement, and crawlspaces is a major, long-term way to improve your home’s heat retention.
- Cover Outlets and Pipes: Use foam gaskets behind exterior wall electrical outlets and use foam insulation sleeves to protect any exposed hot water pipes in unheated spaces like basements.
Ensure Your Oil Tank Is Full Before Peak Season
Proactive fuel management is a critical step in preparing your heating system for winter. Heating oil prices are typically lowest outside of peak demand, and suppliers are often overwhelmed and slower during the coldest months. Filling your tank before temperatures plummet and winter oil prices spike secures your fuel supply, potentially locks in better pricing, and prevents the stress of an emergency delivery or running out of oil.
- Fill Up Early: The smartest time to fill your tank is before a cold weather spike.
- Check the Gauge: Keep an eye on your oil gauge throughout the season to avoid letting the tank fall below the half or quarter-full mark.
- Secure Best Pricing: Use a tool like FEWLR to find the best prices before the rush begins.
How FEWLR Helps with Winter Home Heating System Maintenance
Taking a proactive approach helps maintain your heating system throughout the winter. With energy costs rising, FEWLR helps homeowners save during peak heating season (and throughout the year). FEWLR quickly checks heating oil prices near you during any month of the year. Plus, FEWLR is free to use and does not require a commitment or contract like automatic oil delivery often does. Here’s how it works:
- Open the app and tap “Check Current Price.”
- View the maximum price in your area.
- Submit your delivery request with just a few taps.
- Watch as local oil companies give their best price to get your business.
- Get your oil delivered fast (often within 24 hours).
A warm home starts with a little early prep. By staying ahead of the cold, you’ll avoid the stress of emergency repairs, inflated fuel prices, or a system that fails when you need it most. As part of your winter heating system maintenance, choose FEWLR for smarter oil delivery.
With FEWLR, there are no phone calls to be made in search of the best price on oil. Instead, oil companies compete with each other for your order. For mobile users, download the FEWLR app via the App Store or Google Play. If you would rather use this free service on your desktop or laptop, sign up here.
For more information about our approach to home heating oil, check out these FAQs.
