With a cold and snowy February finally behind us, you might be dreaming of green grass and warmer temperatures. But when you wake up, you’ll realize you live in Nova Scotia where the daily temperatures historically range from +4⁰C to -4⁰C in the month of March. Since we’re not yet out of the woods, you’ll still need to keep your home cozy and warm.
Temperature inside your house is a personal matter. Some like it warmer, others prefer wearing sweaters. Whatever your preference, thermostat adjustments during the day, at night, and when you’re away can save money and still keep you and your family comfortable. For instance, you may want to turn down the heat a few degrees before you go to bed until you get up in the morning. When you leave for the day to go to work, you might want to turn it down again. March is a popular time for sun or ski vacations, making it a great time to use less oil by turning the thermostat down two or three degrees until you return. And to be safe, it is a good idea to have a neighbour or relative check your property every 24-48 hours if you are away for an extended period.
While temperature adjustments are wise, be careful not to get carried away. Reducing the heat too much in zoned areas or above garages and overhangs can cause risk of pipe freeze-ups and costly repairs if the outside temperature dips. As a general rule, you shouldn’t lower the thermostat below 12-15⁰C. This will give you a buffer in the rare event your furnace shuts down.
If you have a regular routine, programmable thermostats are a good way to automate temperature at specific hours during the day and night as they can be pre-set to reduce heat an hour before bed, increase before you rise in the morning, and again lower it for the work day when you’re not home or on vacation. They are fairly easy to install and can often be purchased for around $100.
As a Scotia Fuels customer on automatic delivery, you can rest assured we will continue to monitor outside temperatures while the cold weather continues, making sure you’ll always have plenty of oil in your tank. Not yet a Scotia Fuels’ customer? Go to https://scotiafuels.com/contact-us/ or call us at 902-453-2121 to get a free furnace and tank inspection. We hope you’ll want to find out why 99% of our customers happily recommend us.