Heating your home can be costly, especially when you have an oil-burning furnace. Oil is simply more costly than natural gas in most areas. However, that does not mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for heating fuel. Here are four ways to keep your heating oil costs under control this winter.

Get Your System Tuned Up

Even a few loose components or dirty components can make your oil-burning furnace far less efficient. So, contact your HVAC company and schedule a tune-up before heating season arrives. Most HVAC companies offer a maintenance "package" that includes annual tune-ups and discounts on necessary parts and repairs. Signing up for this package can save you a bundle on HVAC maintenance—and proper maintenance will save you a bundle on heating oil.

Insulate Your Ducts

The air ducts are an often-neglected part of the heating system. If yours are not well insulated, then heat is leaking out through them before it reaches your vents! This will greatly decrease your heating efficiency. Thankfully, insulating the pipes will reduce heat loss, which will lead to lower heating oil consumption. You can wrap exposed ducts in insulation yourself. Just cut a piece of insulation to fit, wrap it around the duct, and secure it with a few strips of black tape.

Maximize Heating from the Sun

If you can use the sun to warm your home, your furnace won't have to work as hard or burn as much oil. When the sun is shining, open your drapes to let the sun inside. Then, when the sun stops shining, close the drapes so that you don't lose excess heat through the windows. If your drapes are very thin, invest in some new, insulating drapes for a more pronounced effect. You may be able to find some gently used ones at a thrift store or garage sale.

Keep an Eye Out for Discounts

Always keep your eyes open for deals on heating oil. Your heating oil delivery company might offer a discount if you schedule your delivery during the week when they are less busy, or if you have the tank filled completely rather than halfway. Take advantage of these deals, even if doing so is a little convenient. Even a 5 cent/gallon discount can add up quickly when filling a big oil tank.

Employ the tips above this winter, and you won't pay more than is necessary for heating oil. To learn more, visit resources like BUCKSFUEL.COM.