Written on: June 9, 2025
While the official first day of winter is months away, and we’ve barely started running the ACs full time here in Litchfield County, CT, it’s smart to plan ahead when it comes to winter heating costs. With winter weather in our area being unpredictable over the past couple years, combined with market volatility that can affect the price of heating oil, we’ve got efficiency tips and money-saving ideas to help you navigate your winter heating needs without breaking your budget.
If you’re a new homeowner trying to set up a budget, you may have asked for past heating costs from the previous owner. But everyone’s usage habits are different, and winter weather can play a big role in how much oil you might burn through in a given season.
In general, if you have a 2,000 square foot home and a 275-gallon heating oil tank, a full tank should give you enough heating fuel to last between 4 to 6 weeks. Keep in mind that a 275-gallon tank is usually considered full at about 230 gallons, to allow for expansion and prevent spillage during deliveries. You can divide gallons by days to estimate your approximate daily heating oil use.
Add this to your calculations: As a rule, a heating system that’s running properly should use between 0.8 and 1.7 gallons of oil per hour during cold weather. Improving efficiency is a proven way to keep your fuel use on the low side of that range. High-efficiency heating equipment in a well-sealed and well-insulated home will use less fuel than an aging boiler or furnace in a drafty house, no matter how cold it gets.
The smartest way to stay warm all season while keeping heating costs under control is with energy efficiency. That means making it easier for your furnace or boiler to do its job. The harder it has to work to warm your home, the more fuel it will burn.
Start with seasonal maintenance for your heating equipment. A tune-up keeps your heating equipment running smoothly, so it will use less fuel to keep your home warm. Our service technicians check for and fix problems that can decrease performance and efficiency, or that could lead to breakdowns, no-heat emergencies, and expensive repairs. And the benefits don’t wear off, so getting that job done in the summer makes good sense too. Then, over the winter, set up reminders to change the filter in your heating system. A dirty air filter can restrict air flow, making your heating equipment work harder to heat your home. That uses more fuel and increases bills.
Use your smart thermostat or programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature based on your schedule. Setting it for a lower temperature night, when you’re under the covers, and when you’re out all day, can have a significant impact of heating costs. Set the heat to turn up a half hour before you get home to take the chill off, rather than paying to keep your home toasty all day while you’re at work.
A weekend of DIY projects, like sealing up drafts with caulking, weatherstripping and expanding foam, can help save you 20% or more on heating costs.
We also offer plenty of options to help you manage costs no matter what happens with prices or how cold it gets.
Our Budget Pay plan spreads home heating oil costs over 12 months, eliminating bills that spike in the winter.
We also offer a price-cap plan that removes the volatility of market pricing. We set a capped price in the summer, and you won’t pay more than that price. Even better, if the market price is lower, you will pay less.
A similar option is our fixed price plan. You agree to a set price in the summer, with the peace of mind that it won’t change all winter.
Our pre-buy plan lets you lock in your price by buying your fuel for the year up front. You take advantage of lower off-season pricing and eliminate the worry about the price of fuel going up.
No matter how much heating oil you may need, you want a company that puts customers first. That means offering fair, transparent pricing and true reliability—with products and services designed to make your life easier.
Find out why so many Litchfield County families and businesses count on Marandola for all their home heating (and cooling!) needs. For more information or to schedule a delivery, contact us today.