Earlier this week, UKIFDA, the trade association for the liquid fuels distribution industry, along with OFTEC, the Oil Firing Technical Association, launched their ‘Be Winter Wise & Prepare For Winter’ campaign.
Now summer has left us and Autumn is officially here, they’re aware it's important that heating oil users plan ahead so that they can stay safe and warm in the colder months ahead. The campaign, which contains five useful tips, aims to give guidance to the 1.7 million off-grid households, with helpful reminders, advice on how to save energy, how to get the best out of their heating, and how to prepare for uncertainty.
In this blog we’re going to help spread the word, and take a look at their 5 important tips to help you prepare for the winter ahead.
Keep your system maintained:
Your boiler and oil-fired heating system have no doubt had a well-deserved rest this summer. Well, now’s the time to make sure they are in tip-top condition and ready for the colder months ahead. At Northern Energy, we fully support UKIFDA and OFTEC in always recommending you regularly check your heating oil boiler and tank to ensure that both are in good condition and working efficiently, and have them serviced on an annual basis.
Finding a reliable and trustworthy engineer to service your central heating oil equipment is easy - and we would always recommend you use an OFTEC registered engineer. Having undergone extensive training, your engineer will have the necessary knowledge and skills to service and maintain your heating system, and ensure that it's compliant with regulations, and safe, reducing the risk of leaks, accidents, or the potential threat of carbon monoxide, often known as ‘The Silent Killer’. All giving you peace of mind and confidence in the knowledge you’re in safe hands.
Not only that, an added bonus is that a well-maintained heating oil system will operate more efficiently. This in itself can save you money, as it can lead to lower fuel usage, and therefore lower energy bills. Team that up with premium heating oil, a cleaner burning oil that improves boiler efficiency by up to 15% for maximum impact!
Click here to find an OFTEC registered oil heating engineer in your area and keep your system working at peak efficiency. And by getting your boiler serviced in the run up to winter when it’ll be at it’s busiest will mean you’re getting the most out of your money!
Book your heating oil delivery early - beat the rush!
As seasonal demand increases, often prices do too. As winter approaches and temperatures fall, people use their heating oil to keep warm at home, and this increased seasonal demand can put upward pressure on prices. Although there are many other factors that affect the price of heating oil, such as geo-political tensions in oil-producing regions, fluctuating exchange rates, severe weather events that can disrupt production or the supply chain.
UKIFDA advises that, to avoid weather-related delays and higher prices, it’s best to book your heating oil delivery early, beat the rush, and avoid spikes in demand or winter weather-related delays.
And another reason not to leave your order too late is that when your heating oil tank level gets very low, it can result in any sludge that may have formed at the bottom of the tank being drawn through into your boiler. Leading to potential problems such as costly breakdowns!
Sign up for the Cold Weather Priority Scheme
The Cold Weather Priority Scheme is an initiative to help identify customers living in rural areas who are at risk and particularly vulnerable, and are over 75 years of age, or live with someone who is. By registering for the scheme, it ensures that deliveries can be prioritised during extreme cold weather or fuel shortages.
As we get older, there any many things that make us more vulnerable to the cold – reduced metabolic rates mean that our bodies produce less heat, poor circulation can reduce blood flow to the extremities, medications for various health conditions can affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature, for instance.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were an estimated 23,200 excess winter deaths in the 2018 to 2019 winter period in England and Wales where cold was a significant contributing factor. Many of these could have been avoided! After all, a cold house is bad for your health.
Which is where the Cold Weather Priority Scheme comes in! To help protect elderly individuals from the cold by ensuring they have a reliable source of energy and a warm living environment.
Don’t delay – if you qualify, give us a call today to register for the scheme, and let us take care of you this winter and beyond.
Call us on 01423 770 666.
Helpful payment guidance
A full tank of heating oil can mean a big bill! Our Flexible Saver Plan is here to help you budget all year round, ease the burden and help you avoid the worry of large winter bills.
As the name suggests, it’s flexible. You can save as much or as little as you want each month towards your next heating oil fuel bill, whether you decide to put a minimal amount into the plan each month and then pay any shortfall when your order, or save a bit more to ensure you have your next bill covered. And your saved money can be refunded at any time – a win, win!
If you’re struggling to pay for your oil, there are a number of government guides packed with useful information and helpful guidance on how to access support where needed. See what help is available with the governments Help for Households, which gives guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.
In addition, more information can be found in the government’s ‘Help with your Energy Bills’ guide which advises on this year’s Cold Weather and Winter payments.
Choose your local UKIFDA-accredited distributor
The final tip from UKIFDA is to find your local UKIFDA distributor well before you need your oil delivery. Choosing a UKFIDA accredited distributor to deliver your heating oil will give you peace of mind that your heating oil delivery is being handled by a reputable and responsible company that adheres to industry standards and best practices.
Which is exactly what we do! At Northern Energy, we’re proud to be a member of UKIFDA. That means you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll always get our best possible 5-star service. And that’s from order to delivery!
We don’t just supply your oil, we’re always on hand to have a chat, and our website has a host of useful information, from when is a good time to buy your heating oil, to how to reduce heat loss at home.
Call us on 01423 770 666 or email helpoil@northernenergy.co.uk