Obtained by the distillation of crude oil, heating oil is the major energy source for heating approximately 8.5 million homes around the country. This energy source is favored in the North Eastern States of the US that account for 80% of national heating oil consumption. One third of the Northeastern states heat their homes using this energy source. As demand for fuel shoots up during the winter, prices also rise and consumers end up spending more money for their fuel when they need it the most. One of the major concerns for consumers is the fluctuating prices and dependence on world crude oil prices. The prices of heating oil and other fuels are not in your control, however there are some steps you can take to reduce the consumption of energy in your home and improve the performance of your HVAC equipment. To save money and avoid paying more money for your supplies during seasonal spikes in prices, fill up your underground fuel tanks in summer or early fall. To save money and reduce consumption of heating oil you should winterize your home in late summer to improve efficiency of your home HVAC system. Conserve resources and improve the performance of your home heating system by following some easy steps: * Insulate Doors and Windows: Provide insulation to leaks and seal up drafts with weather stripping. Much of the heat lost in the home is from windows and doors. Installing double glazing in windows greatly improves the insulation. * Maintenance and repair of furnaces and water heaters : A one-time expense that can cut your fuel costs and drastically bring down the heating bills is to replace your old inefficient furnace and water heaters with modern more energy efficient models. Furnaces installed prior to 1977 are on an average 60% less efficient than today’s highly efficient appliances. Modern furnaces can have efficiency levels of up to 97%. Size the new equipment to your domestic needs. Buying and installing oversized equipment is uneconomical. Use an insulating jacket around your hot water boiler. Clean out filters, vents and ducts regularly to prevent accumulation of dust and debris. * Insulation : Make sure your home is well insulated. The attic and floors over the basement and crawlspaces are more susceptible to heat loss. These areas should have best insulation. Some home owners...