You know the story. “A Christmas Carol” is Charles Dickens’ classic novella that’s been adapted by everyone from Jim Carrey and Patrick Stewart to The Muppets. It’s the story of a miserly man named Ebenezer Scrooge, who learns the true meaning of Christmas after being visited by three spirits.

Dickens sets the mood by describing Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit, having difficulty staying warm in his office. Dickens writes:
“Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. But he couldn’t replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.”

Tragar Can Help You Manage Heating Costs

At Tragar Home Services, we realize energy costs are high, but we also know there are ways to keep bills down without your home becoming something resembling Scrooge’s office. We’re your year-round home energy experts. We’ll make sure your oil or gas heat system is running properly and if you’re an oil heat customer, we’ll get your heating oil delivered on time and you won’t have to be home for the delivery. Whether you live in Suffolk County or Nassau County, Tragar offers full service oil deliveries throughout Long Island. We can get you to lose the snow shovel by adding heated driveways and walkways, and we offer other services such as plumbing and air conditioning service and repair. Tragar knows you want to stay warm and save money, so we want to tell you how not to be a Scrooge this holiday season.

Energy Efficiency and Staying Warm

The Alliance to Save Energy, a bipartisan organization dedicated to promoting energy efficiency has some tips that will help you stay warm without emptying your wallet. First, you should realize the importance of heating. Did you know that your heating bill makes up about 42 percent of your total energy bill? So, it’s critical to make sure your heating system is well maintained. We wouldn’t recommend being Scrooge but lowering your thermostat can cut your bill by 30 percent.
Lowering your water heater to 120 degrees If your home is drafty, you need to plug leaks. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed and that your home is properly insulated. If you have a fireplace inside your home, make certain that you close the damper when you aren’t using it.
There are other tricks you can use to be energy efficient such as making the sun your friend. Open your south facing curtains during daylight hours, to capture the sun’s warmth. Set your ceiling fans to counterclockwise and run them. This will push warm air that rises to the ceiling downward.

iComfort Smart Thermostat Savings

Consider getting a programmable thermostat like the iComfort Smart Thermostat, available from Tragar. In fact, Long Island homeowners can save big on their heating costs in the winter and fall. Not only does it save on your heating bills in the colder months, but it will also save you money and energy usage in the summer months with your air conditioning costs as well. After getting to your know preferences, the iComfort Smart Thermostat fine-tunes the schedule of temperatures for you automatically to save energy.

Let Tragar Tell You How to Save Energy and Stay Warm

Tragar offers a variety of services that will help your heating system be more energy efficient. We’ll also be happy to answer any questions you may have about your home heating. We can even give you a home energy audit. This is not the time of year that you want to be an energy Scrooge. Contact Tragar today.