As we approach the summertime, although it may not feel like it with cool daytime and evening temperatures for the time of year, you may have already switched your oil-fired central heating off, or just be heating your water rather than your home.
You may, however, be wondering why you’ve used so much heating oil over the cold winter months – let’s face it, high fuel consumption can really impact your household budget, not to mention the environment.
It makes sense that larger properties require more energy to keep them warmer than smaller homes, resulting in higher fuel consumption and bigger bills. But if you feel you are using more domestic heating oil than you would expect for the size of your home, there are several reasons why this could be. In this blog we’re going to look at how much fuel you could expect to use, what those reasons for using more could potentially be, and see what you can do to make your home heating oil last longer.
How much heating oil should I expect to use?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer as to how much fuel you'll use. As a very rough guide, we would expect an average 3-bedroomed property to use approximately 2,500 litres of domestic heating oil in a twelve-month period, but this is likely to be more if we have a harsh winter with prolonged cold spells.
Usage will depend on the time of year. You’ll use more in the peak winter period and less in the warmer summer months.
If you are thinking of buying a property that uses home heating oil, or have just moved into one, it’s a good idea to ask the previous owners for an estimate of how much heating oil they have used.
Why have I used more oil than the average?
There are several factors that will influence the amount of heating oil you use, such as how often you have your heating on, how many rooms you need to heat, how warm you like your home, how many people live in the property, how much time you all spend at home, and the efficiency of your heating oil boiler itself.
It may be that your boiler is getting on in life - as a general rule, older boilers are less efficient when compared to newer models. This is due to wear and tear over time which leads to a decrease in performance and efficiency. Also, technological advancements and design improvements in today’s modern boilers contribute to higher efficiency levels.
Other factors that can affect the amount of fuel you use include:
- Colder weather. When the weather is colder, heat escapes more quickly from your home so your heating system needs to work harder and for longer periods to maintain the desired indoor temperature. For more insight, check our tips for getting prepared for cold weather.
- Poor insulation. How well or badly your home is insulated will severely impact the amount of heating oil you use. Poor insulation allows heat to escape through ceilings, floors, walls, doors and windows.
- A poorly maintained boiler. Without regular maintenance, filters can become blocked or clogged, and soot and debris can build up inside your heating oil boiler, reducing its efficiency and potentially its lifespan too. In turn, this will put your boiler under strain due to it having to work harder to heat your home, increasing the amount of home heating oil it consumes - and increasing your energy bills too.
How can I make my fuel last longer?
Use your thermostat and timer wisely
Have you ever forgotten to switch your heating off when you’re going to be away from home for some time, or even when you’ve gone to bed?
Using your programmable timer and thermostat to turn the heating on and off when necessary, and lower the temperature when you’re away from home or at night, will help prevent this from happening and lower your energy usage, your fuel costs, and your carbon footprint too.
If you don’t have one already, consider investing in a smart thermostat, a nifty programmable device designed to help you manage and control your heating system. Connected to your Wi-Fi, you can adjust your temperature and heating settings from anywhere using a mobile app on your smartphone,and set up a schedule for when your heating comes on and off.
Don’t waste hot water
We all need hot water around the home, and the number of litres we use can soon add up. Higher water usage contributes significantly to increased oil consumption and higher energy costs.
Cut down on your usage by taking showers instead of baths, by not leaving the hot water tap running, by fixing leaks and dripping taps, and fill your dishwasher and washing machine and use on the most efficient water and energy settings. Also, don’t forget to turn down the temperature setting on your boiler. Not only will these simple steps help lower your fuel bills but you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment. According to the Energy Saving Trust, ‘heating water for use in our homes makes up about 5% of the UK’s total carbon dioxide emissions’.
Don’t heat empty rooms
Turning off radiators, or turning the thermostat down in empty rooms can result in energy savings and lower heating bills, especially if you have several unused rooms in your home. And remember to keep doors closed to prevent the cold air escaping from these rooms. It's a good idea, however, to give those unused rooms a treat from time to time and turn on the heating for an hour or two to prevent damp and condensation.
Bleed your radiators
Over time, air becomes trapped inside radiators preventing it from flowing freely and air pockets form that prevent the hot water from circulating, reducing the radiator’s ability to heat your rooms effectively. Bleeding your radiators allows the trapped air to escape so they can achieve the desired temperature and provide consistent heat.
Improve insulation
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that a quarter of heat is lost through the roof of an uninsulated home. So being proactive in maximising home efficiency and tackling heat loss by making sure your home is well insulated is important from an energy-saving perspective - but also from an environmental one too. Insulate pipes, and seal gaps around windows and doors that let warm air escape and cold air in which would make your boiler work hard to keep room temperatures consistent. The good news is there are some quick fixes too that don’t cost the earth!
Look after your boiler
Your boiler works hard to look after you and your family. Return the compliment and give it some regular TLC. Keeping your boiler in tip-top condition with regular maintenance will not only keep your family cozy but will improve your boiler's efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, extend its lifespan, and ensure you have a safe and reliable heating system - heating oil boilers can develop dangerous issues such as carbon monoxide leaks if not properly maintained. We would always recommend you have your oil boiler serviced annually by a qualified OFTEC heating oil engineer.
Upgrade your heating system
Installing a new heating system can significantly reduce your heating costs. By choosing a highly-efficient system and ensuring it is properly installed and maintained, you can make considerable savings. If this is something you're thinking about, it’s also worth considering alternative fuels such as LPG which is the nearest thing to mains gas. LPG boilers are considerably cheaper than heating oil boilers and are versatile, clean burning, and highly efficient, achieving efficiencies of 90% or higher.
Choose Premium Heating Oil
Premium Heating Oil is a cleaner burning fuel that makes your boiler up to 15% more efficient so provides better fuel economy.
It has been specially formulated with an additive to make your boiler run at its best, and also prevents the build up of sludge in your heating oil tank and rust inside your boiler. So in addition to improved boiler performance, switching to Premium Heating Oil can help prevent expensive boiler breakdowns. Win, win!
Even better news - our Premium Heating Oil is one of the additional benefits of our Premium Package* which also comes with a 2 pence per litre discount on all deliveries. Click here to find out more, or give us a call and we'll talk you through it.
We hope you found the above information useful, but don't forget, we're always here to help. Just call us for a chat on 01423 770 666 and we'll help and advise you based on your individual circumstances, on what you can do to improve your home efficiency, and when's a good time to buy your heating oil.
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