Home heating checks you should make every week

September 1, 2022

If you’re guilty of leaving it to the last minute to order home heating oil, you could benefit from a weekly reminder to make sure you never run out – it always seems to happen at the worst possible time!

There are other simple home heating checks you should make every week, which not only keep you safe but may also help you to be more economical and efficient with your energy spend. Find out more about these checks in our blog post below.

Boiler settings

Your boiler settings should dictate the time your heating is switched on for, and the temperature settings for your radiators and hot water. During the summer months your regular schedule may be slightly different due to holidays, the kids being off school, or even a heatwave like the one we’ve just experienced.

For this reason, you need to adjust the timings and temperature each week to ensure your house remains at a comfortable level and so that the heating (should you need it) is only on when you want it to be. This check should only take a few minutes to complete and yet the savings could be huge – small thermostat decreases will allow you to save big on your bills over the course of a year.

Oil tank contents

Checking your oil tank contents each week might seem like a chore, but when you completely run out of oil the consequences are more than just the inconvenience while you wait for a top up.

When your tank runs completely dry, the sludge and grime build up at the bottom of your tank gets pulled into your heating system and can cause blockages, damage and repairs which can quickly add up as an unexpected and unnecessary cost.

Checking your oil tank contents is easily done too – thanks to electronic tank monitors and sight gauges, you can see easily how much oil is left so you can re-order in plenty of time before running out.

Oil tank health status

Your oil tank is an important piece of your home heating system, but more often than not people neglect it until it starts showing obvious signs of wear and tear. When this happens, the damage is normally done, but you can prevent it or at least delay it by making simple weekly checks to keep on top of any obvious changes, identify problems and take corrective action.

Things to look out for include scratches, dents and damp patches around the base, rusted vales, broken seals and frost damage to exposed pipes. If you notice any of these issues, you may need to start thinking about replacing your tank – they typically have a lifespan around 20 years.

Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm

Your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are vital components of your home, and if they aren’t connected to the mains electricity, make sure you replace the batteries every 6 months and check them weekly to test they are still operational. This check takes seconds and could potentially save your life.