Running out of heating oil can be a terrible experience for your family. Not only can you feel cold and uncomfortable, but your pipes can freeze and cost thousands of dollars to repair. To prevent this, you should be sure to keep your tank a quarter full at all times. This will give you a buffer should the weather cause delivery delays.
Keep Your Tank Full
A full tank of heating oil is essential for keeping your home warm and avoiding freeze damage. However, it’s not always easy to keep track of your oil consumption and know when to schedule a delivery. That’s where on-demand oil delivery Eatontown NJ is helpful. If you use an automatic delivery system, your provider will monitor your tank and notify you when it’s time for a refill. Then, they will automatically send a delivery so you can rest assured, knowing your home is well-stocked and ready for the winter. If you are a will-call customer, remove any hazards in your driveway that could prevent the delivery driver from reaching your home’s fuel inlet. You should also display your house number to make it easier for the delivery driver to find your home.
Prevent Freeze Damage
Cold temperatures do more than put a damper on our mood; they can do serious damage to your home and create liability risks. Although standard homeowners policies cover many disasters caused by cold weather, there are a few steps that you can take to protect yourself from the unexpected. During cold periods, blood vessels narrow in a process called vasoconstriction. This increases the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. You can protect yourself from this cold-weather danger by eating healthily, exercising regularly and taking medications as prescribed. Before freezing temperatures arrive, check your home for water pipes that could freeze. Insulate your pipes and consider turning off and draining sprinkler systems. Know your home’s shut-off valve (typically in the basement, crawl space or attic), and be familiar with how to shut it off in an emergency. Ensure your driveway and walkways are free of hazards such as ice or snow. This ensures your heating oil delivery driver can safely access your driveway inlet to deliver your fuel.
Avoid Damage to Your Furnace
If you neglect your furnace, it can suffer damage that requires costly repair or even replacement. Furnace heat exchangers are vulnerable to cracking and other problems, especially if subjected to extreme stress or excessive wear. Dirt and dust can clog your furnace’s air filter, causing it to work harder to push heated air through your home. It can also cause the system to run inefficiently, increasing electricity bills.
In addition, if you use your furnace for construction purposes, such as during renovations on your home, the extra dust released into the air can cause serious damage to your heating system. This can also void your warranty. The best way to avoid this is to schedule an annual maintenance inspection from a qualified technician. The technician will evaluate your system and catch any issues that might develop before they become major problems requiring costly repair or replacement.
Prevent Damage to Your Pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the worst winter home disasters and can cost homeowners thousands to repair. The good news is that frozen pipes are usually preventable.
Pipes outdoors or in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and exterior walls are at the highest risk for freezing because they’re exposed to frigid temperatures. Indoor plumbing in the same area is also at risk because it’s not protected from freezing temperatures either. Keeping your pipes warmer with products designed to insulate them, such as a pipe sleeve, UL-listed heat tape, or heating cable, can help prevent them from freezing. Another simple trick is to keep your faucets open so they have a slight water flow. That way, when a pipe freezes, the water flow helps melt the ice and relieve pressure. A smart thermostat that maintains a steady temperature day and night can also help prevent frozen pipes.