Written on: September 15, 2025
Saving energy isn’t about keeping your thermostat so low that you’re uncomfortable—it’s about making your furnace run efficiently. The goal is to help your furnace work smarter, not harder, so it can deliver steady warmth without wasting energy. It also means setting up your home to hold onto that heat instead of letting it escape. Here are some simple ways to get the most efficiency out of your furnace this winter.
When filters get clogged with dust and nozzles and other parts get gunked up with oil, your equipment needs to work harder to produce and push out heat. A well-maintained system can reduce your fuel use by as much as 10%!
Changing or cleaning your filters regularly is an easy DIY boost to your system’s efficiency. Monthly (especially if you have pets that shed) or every other month is best in the winter.
But professional maintenance is essential when it comes to keeping your furnace running at peak efficiency. You should make sure to schedule a professional tune-up once a year, ideally before or after the heating season.
Our technicians will check for leaks; inspect and clean filters, blowers and burners, and run safety tests to make sure your heating system is ready for winter. Regular maintenance not only improves efficiency, it can prevent breakdowns—eliminating the cost of repairs. If you’re signed up for one of our equipment service plans, an annual tune-up is included!
Used correctly, a programmable thermostat can help you lower your heating costs by 10% or more. Lower your thermostat to 58° or 60° when you’re asleep or out of the house, and raise it when you’re at home and awake. You can maximize your savings by setting the thermostat for 68° when you’re home—and layer up with your favorite sweater, but you’ll still save if you keep it a little higher.
A smart thermostat makes it easy: you can program it around your schedule, instead of manually changing the temp when you come and go. You can even control the temperature remotely with an app on your phone. That means you can set the temp higher when you are on your way home.
A furnace tune-up and adjusting your thermostat won’t be as effective if heat is escaping through drafts around windows, doors, or ductwork. In fact, older homes can lose up to a third of their warm air this way. Sealing leaks makes every other energy-saving step more effective. From adding insulation to professional duct-sealing services, or even simple DIY fixes like caulking and weatherstripping, closing up those gaps can help you cut heating costs by 20% or more.
Everyone knows how humidity can make the air feel oppressive and warmer in the summer. But in winter, when running your heating system makes the air in your home feel dry, a whole-house humidifier can make it feel more comfortable. It can even make rooms feel just enough warmer that you can lower the thermostat a tad. More humidity in winter will also help reduce dry, itchy skin!
A tune-up is the first step to getting the most efficient performance from your furnace this winter. Good maintenance not only helps keep heating costs down, but also prevents many of the problems that lead to breakdowns.
If you’re looking for a full-service company for prompt heating oil delivery, plus expert installation, maintenance and repair services in Litchfield County and surrounding areas in Connecticut, look no further than Mandola.
Contact us for more information today.