Beating high oil prices -- Serious efficiency upgrades you can do for under $1,000

Faced with a near-doubling of oil prices as we head toward another heating season, many homeowners are looking for ways to increase the efficiency of their oil-heating systems. Here are a few recommendations on beating the high cost of oil with upgrades and improvements that cost under $1,000.

1) Outdoor reset control (hot water systems)

Also called weather-responsive controls, these electronic devices operate on the simple premise that lower boiler-supply temperatures results in increased fuel savings.

Most boiler systems are designed to heat the home on the coldest day of the year (in the Albany, NY area, we consider this to be about -7 degrees F) using a boiler supply-temperature of around 180 degrees F.

Since 98 percent of the heating system is above -7 degrees -- 67 percent of the season is actually above 30 degrees F -- it's possible to adequately heat your home with substantially lower boiler-supply temperatures.

Outdoor-reset controls modulate the temperature of the boiler based on the outdoor temperature; increasing water-temperatures as the outdoor temperature drops, and decreasing water-temperatures in milder weather.

Most outdoor-reset controls typically improve boiler-efficiency by 15 percent.

2) Becket HeatManager (hot water systems)

Becket's HeatManager is an add-on boiler control that improves efficiency by better-managing on-off cycling of the oil burner. Costing around $575-$650 installed, the HeatManager comes with 10% fuel-savings guarantee from the manufacturer.

3) Professional clean & tune (hot water, forced air & steam systems)

Most people with oil systems are diligent in having their oil-fired boiler cleaned each season. The problem is that the technician called-in to do the job isn't so diligent in properly tuning the burner for maximum efficiency.

Most technicians fail to use an electronic combustion-analyzer and other diagnostic devices to make precise adjustments to the burner. A thorough cleaning followed by a proper tune-up can improve efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Contractors and technicians who own the proper testing gear will typically charge $250 to $300 to clean & tune your oil-fired- heating system.

4) Minor ductwork improvements (forced air systems)

The vast majority of duct systems rob the energy-performance of the furnace by as much as 20 percent. Poor duct design and/or installation can cause restrictions in the path of air-flow and force the furnace to work harder than it should.

A simple 5-minute static-pressure test by a knowledgeable technician can reveal energy-robbing air-flow problems, many of which can be remedied with minor changes to the ductwork.

These relatively easy and cost-effective upgrades my include the installation of turning-vanes at critical transitions, or replacing flex-duct with hard pipe.

5) Burner de-rating (Hot Water & Warm Air Systems)

Most homeowners own heating systems that are oversized for their actual needs. The reason for oversizing usually results from the original contractor's failure to perform a proper heat-loss analyses of the home prior to installation. Homeowners faced with this situation can often have their burner "de-rated," or in other words, reduce its output in order to burn less oil.

Burners should only be de-rated by a highly qualified technician. Done incorrectly, one can cause the burner to malfunction and result in frequent lock-outs. More serious, improper de-rating can result in dangerous excessive production of carbon monoxide.

To properly de-rate your burner, a smart technician will first contact the equipment manufacturer, who in turn will provide information on the correct nozzle, as well as the new settings for the burner. Following the manufacturer's guidelines, the technician will fine-tune the burner using an electronic combustion-analyzer and other testing devices.

All of the above upgrades and improvements are available from Enhanced Living, Inc. For consultation, call (518) 235-0311 or e-mail info@enhancedliving.net.