Save Money on your Propane Bill
Written on: January 17, 2022
Save on Your Home Heating with Efficient Propane Use
These days it feels like everything is getting more expensive. When prices on everyday items rise, homeowners with propane-powered appliances look for new strategies to reduce their energy consumption. After all, smarter propane use means lower monthly bills.
Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice comfort to save money. At Delaware Propane, we have identified several tips for lowering energy use while remaining warm and comfortable.
Here are five ways to significantly improve your home’s propane consumption and lower your bill in the process!
1. Install Sufficient Insulation
To help your propane heating system work more efficiently, you need to keep heat inside your home. Start by installing additional insulation in areas where heat often escapes: attics, floors, crawl spaces, and basements. Even recently-built homes benefit from extra insulation.
The US Department of Energy recommends that homeowners use materials with high R-value, which measures heat flow reduction. For example, they recommend Delaware homeowners use between R38 and R60 material for uninsulated attics.
Adding insulation can generate huge savings. The Department of Energy states that properly insulating your home can save you up to 20% on heating and cooling costs.
2. Plug Air Leaks with Weather Stripping
Weatherstripping offers great heat conservation benefits as well. A good start toward reducing home heating costs is to check your window and doorframes for drafts and apply weather stripping where you feel cold air. You can also have a professional identify air leaks with a comprehensive home energy audit. This process involves precision tools like infrared cameras and blower doors.
By preventing heat from escaping your home, your propane furnace or boiler will need to cycle less often, reducing your energy costs.
3. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat
Did you know that households can save 10% on annual heating costs by lowering their thermostats only 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day!
With a programmable thermostat, you can set up money-saving temperature adjustments based on your schedule. You can schedule 7°-10° reductions for overnight hours or while you are out of the house working.
For added financial benefits, consider a smart thermostat like Nest. You can regulate temperatures from your smartphone, which is excellent news if you’re looking to save some money on heating and cooling bills. Smart thermostats also make energy-saving modifications, lowering the temperature in your home when no one is there.
With a programmable thermostat, you can receive the benefits of lower propane use without lessening your family’s comfort.
4. Schedule a Heating System Tune-up
Performing maintenance on your propane-fired appliances – especially your home heating system – improves their efficiency and catches minor issues before they become expensive problems.
After this heating season or before the next one, you should contact a professional HVAC company to perform annual maintenance on your equipment, including cleaning, inspections and parts replacement.
Having an HVAC expert tune up your heating equipment can save you money on your propane bill because properly-functioning furnaces and boilers consume less fuel. You, as the homeowner, reap the benefits!
5. Enroll in Delaware Propane’s PreBuy Program Next Season
The tips listed above help your home retain heat and your appliances work to their fullest potential. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could protect yourself from fluctuations in the price of propane? There is!
Delaware Propane’s PreBuy Program allows you to buy your propane for the winter before temperatures drop. This locks in the price per gallon and gives you more control over your home energy budget. No more worrying about sudden spikes in the price of propane!
So, before the start of the next heating season, enroll in PreBuy.
At Delaware Propane, we understand the household budget concerns of Delaware homeowners. As a locally-owned, locally-based company, we are committed to delivering you propane and peace of mind. Contact us today to become a customer!