You can make heating oil or propane last longer by reducing heat loss and helping your heating system operate efficiently. Start by lowering your thermostat when you’re sleeping or away, when appropriate for your heating system. Seal drafts around windows, exterior doors, outlets, basement entrances and other air leaks. Keep radiators, baseboards and vents clean and unobstructed, and run ceiling fans clockwise on low to circulate warm air.

Insulating exposed hot-water and boiler pipes can also reduce wasted heat. Have your heating equipment professionally maintained each year so it can operate safely and efficiently. If your furnace or boiler is 15-20 years old or older, consider having its efficiency evaluated and comparing it with modern equipment.

Small improvements can add up because your heating system needs less fuel when your home retains heat longer. The U.S. Department of Energy identifies air sealing, insulation, appropriate thermostat settings and heating-system maintenance as important ways to reduce household energy use.

A good strategy is to keep your thermostat at the lowest temperature that is comfortable while you’re home, then lower it when you’re sleeping or away if appropriate for your heating system.

The U.S. Department of Energy says households can save as much as 10% annually on heating by turning the thermostat back 7–10°F from its normal setting for about eight hours per day.

However, the ideal setback depends on your heating equipment. Forced-air furnaces generally respond quickly to scheduled temperature changes, while some boiler, radiant and heat-pump systems may perform better with smaller setbacks.

During extended winter absences, avoid setting the temperature so low that plumbing is at risk of freezing. A programmable or smart thermostat can make scheduled adjustments easier and prevent unnecessary heating while you're sleeping or away.

Start with improvements that reduce heat loss without requiring major renovations. Lower your thermostat when appropriate, open sun-facing curtains during daylight hours and close them after sunset, seal drafts around windows and doors, add weatherstripping and door sweeps, and close fireplace dampers when the fireplace isn't being used.

You can also keep radiators and baseboards clean, replace forced-air filters regularly, insulate exposed hot-water pipes and set your water heater to an appropriate energy-saving temperature.

Pay particular attention to air leaks around basement entrances, rim joists and penetrations for pipes and wiring. DOE says reducing drafts through air sealing can potentially produce substantial energy savings, although actual results can vary by home.

Finally, schedule regular heating-system maintenance. Combining efficient equipment operation with air sealing, insulation and sensible thermostat settings can reduce the amount of heating oil or propane required to keep your home comfortable.

Yes. Drafts allow heated indoor air to escape and cold outdoor air to enter, forcing your furnace or boiler to run longer to maintain the thermostat setting. Reducing those air leaks can therefore decrease the amount of heating oil or propane your heating system needs.

Start with common leakage points such as windows, exterior doors, basement doors and bulkheads, electrical outlets on exterior walls, plumbing penetrations and gaps around unfinished spaces. Depending on the location, inexpensive improvements such as caulk, weatherstripping, door sweeps and appropriate insulation can help.

The U.S. Department of Energy identifies sealing air leaks as one of the common improvements for reducing household energy waste and estimates that reducing drafts can produce meaningful energy savings, with actual results depending on the home's condition.

For older New England homes, addressing air leakage can be especially valuable because it improves comfort as well as heating efficiency.

Regular maintenance can help a furnace or boiler operate safely and efficiently while identifying problems before they become more expensive repairs. A professional tune-up may include inspecting and cleaning components, checking system operation and identifying conditions that could cause the equipment to waste fuel or perform poorly.

Maintenance won't overcome major heat loss from a poorly insulated home, and the amount of fuel saved varies by equipment and its condition. However, heating-system maintenance works together with thermostat management, air sealing and insulation to improve overall home-heating efficiency. 

Dead River Company recommends scheduling annual heating-system maintenance before winter—ideally during spring or summer—so potential issues can be addressed before the heating season. Getting your annual tuneup can also protect against breakdowns and surprise repair costs.

Automatic delivery can significantly reduce the risk of running out of heating oil or propane because you don't have to estimate when to order fuel yourself.

With automatic delivery, Dead River Company uses factors including local weather conditions and your historical fuel consumption to estimate when you will need another delivery and schedule it before your supply becomes too low.

If you choose will-call delivery instead, you are responsible for monitoring your tank. Dead River Company recommends requesting a delivery before your tank reaches approximately one-quarter full, particularly during periods of severe New England winter weather when fuel consumption can increase. 

Automatic delivery doesn't make a furnace or boiler consume less fuel, it all comes down to fuel-supply management: reducing runout risk and removing the need for you to continually monitor the tank and schedule deliveries.