Smart Home Heating: Propane Efficiency Tips for the Winter Season

Wintertime is when we try to make the most efficient use of our energy resources in order to keep our homes comfortable without breaking the bank. Propane stands out for its reliability and cost-effectiveness to make your living space warm and inviting. Here are practical tips to enhance your propane efficiency this winter.

Check your home insulation to maximize home heat:

A well-insulated home retains heat far better, meaning your propane heating system doesn't have to work as hard. Here are some easy checks and fixes you can do yourself to improve insulation and retain heat:

1. Check for Drafts: Drafts, which are unwanted currents of cold air entering your home, can significantly undermine your heating efficiency. To detect these air leaks, walk around your home and feel for cooler air near windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Simple draft-proofing can be done with adhesive sealing strips or draft stoppers, which are both affordable and easy to install. By sealing these drafts, you'll keep the warm air in and the cold air out, ensuring your propane heating system isn't working overtime without incurring in additional insulation costs.
   
   
2. Enhance Window Insulation with Plastic Film: Combat winter chill and enhance your home's heat retention with window insulation film, a cost-effective solution to reduce heat loss. This clear plastic film can be easily applied to the inside of your window frames, acting as an extra layer of insulation. It traps a pocket of air between the glass and the film, creating a barrier that helps prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering. Installation is straightforward—usually requiring just a hairdryer to shrink the film for a tight fit. Not only does this method help in maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, but it also contributes to lower propane usage and heating costs during the winter months.
   
   
3. Inspect your home insulation: Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow in your home and is crucial for maintaining energy efficiency. To ensure it's performing optimally, inspect the insulation where possible and visible, such as the attic, crawl spaces and basements. Look for signs of damage, such as dampness, which can reduce its effectiveness. Check that it's properly installed without any gaps, as even small spaces can allow heat to escape. If you find areas where the insulation has been compressed or has settled, fluff it back to its original volume, if possible, to restore its insulating capability. For areas that are hard to reach or require additional insulation, consider consulting with a professional to ensure it's done correctly and safely.
   
   

1. Install Insulating Curtains: Give your home heat an extra boost with insulating curtains, an affordable and easy-to-install option that adds extra insulation.  These curtains are designed with thermal lining that act as a barrier against cold drafts and heat loss. By hanging them over windows and even doorways, you create an additional layer of insulation that helps maintain the room's temperature. During the day, open the curtains to allow natural sunlight to warm your space and close them at night to reduce the heat from escaping to the outside, which can help your propane last longer. This means your heating system runs more efficiently, extending the intervals between refills and providing additional savings on your propane use.
   
   
2. Add rugs to improve floor insulation: If you have hardwood or tile floors, laying down rugs can provide an extra layer of insulation, contributing to a cozier feel in your rooms. Rugs retain heat effectively, which can help maintain a consistent temperature and reduce the need for your propane heating system to constantly cycle on. This efficient use of rugs complements your propane heating, ensuring your home remains comfortably warm throughout the winter.
   
   
3. Check your furniture placement for optimal home heat: Make sure that sofas, chairs, and other large pieces do not block your heating vents. Unobstructed vents allow for better air circulation, which leads to more even distribution of heat. This ensures that every corner of your room benefits from the warmth provided by your propane heating system, allowing you to enjoy a consistently comfortable home environment.
   
   
4. Insulate your Doors with Door Sweeps to Retain Home Heat: Cold drafts sneaking in under exterior doors can be a significant source of heat loss. Fitting door sweeps is a straightforward and cost-effective solution to this problem. These sweeps are attached to the bottom of your door and brush against the threshold, effectively sealing the gap that lets in cold air. By preventing drafts, door sweeps help to keep the heat generated by your propane system inside your home, maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout the colder months.
   
   

Optimize Your Propane Heating with a Programmable Thermostat

Maintain Optimal Home Heat with Propane Appliance Maintenance

Propane heating systems are known for their durability and typically require less maintenance than oil heating systems. However, regular check-ups are still important to ensure they operate at peak efficiency. Simple tasks like cleaning or replacing filters can be done easily, and an occasional professional inspection can help maintain the system's optimal performance. Superior Propane’s network of certified partners are experts in providing these services efficiently. They can handle the technical maintenance with less frequency than other fuel systems might require, ensuring your system is safe and effective. This approach not only extends the life of your propane appliances but also maximizes their efficiency, offering you comfort and potential savings.

When it's time to update your appliances, selecting ENERGY STAR® rated models is a wise move. ENERGY STAR® rated furnaces, water heaters, and kitchen appliances that use propane more efficiently than older models. These appliances provide the same level of performance while consuming less fuel, ensuring that your home maintains its comfort without unnecessary energy use. 

Save on Propane with Superior Propane's Flexible Pricing Plans

With the fluctuating cost of fuels, propane offers a more predictable way to manage your utility bills when you opt for a pricing plan; you can secure a consistent rate throughout the year regardless of market fluctuations. This not only offers potential long-term savings but also gives you complete control over your energy budget. Whether you choose to lock in a fixed rate for the entire year or spread-out payments evenly every month, you'll always know what to expect on your bill.

Fixed Price Plan (FPP):
With Superior Propane's Fixed Price Plan, you can lock in your propane price for 12 months and not have to worry about the variable market rate. You’re protected from fluctuating propane prices for the duration of your plan, similar to a fixed mortgage. You have the peace of mind of knowing what your propane costs will be every time you receive a delivery during the plan’s 12-month term.

Price plans are similar to mortgage rates, with fixed and variable (floating) pricing. A fixed price offers stability and predictability and can assist with budget planning. A variable rate can take advantage of favourable market conditions, which has the potential to save you money over the course of the year. The choice is yours when it comes to the plan that meets your needs. 

Optimize your Propane Deliveries and Refills

Superior Propane offers Automatic Delivery which is not only a convenient way to receive propane refills but also helps minimize propane-related fees. Superior optimizes the frequency of your automatic deliveries to ensure you receive a continuous propane supply without having to pay more fees than necessary. By determining the most efficient delivery schedule, you could be saving on applicable fees, such as delivery and HAZMAT charges.

The Auto Delivery plan also safeguards against unexpected costs. When you leave the scheduling and deliveries to us, there's a reduced risk of emergency deliveries and associated charges, as you will always have the fuel you need, when you need it.