If you got sticker shock from your heating costs this past winter, now is the time to take some steps so you can reduce them.
You can take control of your heating costs by enrolling in the Wesco Oil Budget Plan. Your heating oil costs are spread out evenly over 12 manageable payments.
When it comes to lowering your heating costs, not much beats adding insulation to your home.
Having proper insulation not only helps you lower your heating costs, but also helps lower your cooling costs by keeping your air-conditioned air in the house.
Adding insulation to your attic not only makes your home more energy-efficient, but it’s also a great investment as you may recoup 80% (or more!) of your investment when it comes to adding to your home’s value.
Before you know what you need to do, you need to know what you have in terms of insulation.
Check the attic, as well as walls and floors next to an unheated space like a garage or unfinished basement. Structural elements are usually exposed in these spaces, making it easy to measure the depth or thickness of the insulation.
Electrical outlets give you access to checking insulation behind walls. Turn off the power to the outlet and remove the outlet cover. Shine a flashlight into the space to see what kind of insulation is behind the wall, and how much is there. Do this on all floors and rooms, as insulation is often not consistent, especially in homes that have been renovated or added onto.
A professional home energy audit can give you an in-depth analysis of your home’s insulation and make recommendations for you.
Once you know your home’s insulation status, you need to know how much insulation you need. The U.S. Department of Energy has a guide to that, breaking the country up into zones when it comes to recommended insulation levels. Here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, we’re in Zone 5.
Most people first think of the rolls of fiberglass insulation they see at the local home improvement store when it comes to insulation. But there are several options for you to choose from, including:
You can learn more about the types of insulation available with this information from the Department of Energy.
What you pick depends on your needs and your budget. Some insulation installation is a simple, straightforward do-it-yourself project. Others require professionals.
Wesco Oil provides expert installation of energy-efficient furnaces and boilers. Upgrade now and save on heating costs for years to come! Contact us to get started.
