Burns & McBride - Smart Changes

Rethinking Heating

Helping you use less and save more!

Discover how we are making smart changes about the way we serve you

At Burns & McBride we know it takes Smart SOLUTIONS to save your family money on their heating bills…especially now. That's why we're RETHINKING HEATING.

We are more than just an HVAC service and oil delivery company, we're your partner and you can depend on us for Smart solutions that really work. That means thinking outside the box to create ways to pass savings along to you. One of our Smart CHANGES is using Smart Cars to drive to your home. By switching from traditional company vehicles to Smart Cars, we cut down on the amount of fuel we need to reach you. The Smart Car is also a low emissions vehicle so we are helping to protect the environment while also lowering fuel costs. Burns & McBride is passing our savings along to you... now that's Smart!

Here are some Smart Changes you can make in your home:


  1. Close doors to unoccupied rooms.
  2. Open the drapes or blinds on sunny days and bask in the "free" heat. Keep those south-facing windows squeaky clean to let the light through. Remember to close the drapes or blinds when the sun sets.
  3. Close drapes at night to prevent heat loss.
  4. Put all your small appliances and home theater equipment on power strips to eliminate "phantom loads", or energy use by appliances that are plugged in but turned off. Each little digital readout and blinking light creates a phantom load that can account for up to 20 percent of your energy use.
  5. To check if a door provides good insulation, place your hand against it from the inside. If it feels cooler than the inside walls, it might be time to install a door that is better insulated.
  6. Adding a humidifier to your heating system may allow you to turn your thermostat down and be comfortable at lower temperatures. 
Aquariums and houseplants can add humidity too.
  7. During the winter months, don't forget to keep the garage door tightly closed as much as possible. In doing so, you'll retain warmer air against the garage-side wall of the house and it will act as a buffer against the colder outdoor air.
  8. Unplug chargers that are not charging small electronics.