Even though you’re seeing fewer oil furnaces these days, some older East Coast homes still use oil in the fall and winter for their heating needs. However, experienced companies like Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating from the Hanover, MD area frequently recommend converting to gas heat as a reliable solution to the harsh winters of New England.
Doing this will not only help you reduce energy usage and save money over time, but if you decide to sell your home in the future, it will make your home more appealing to potential homebuyers. Not to mention, you won’t have to worry that you’ll run out of fuel on a cold winter day.
If you’re thinking about making the change, you may just need a little extra push. The following covers some of the top reasons to convert from oil to gas heating.
1. Gas Heating Is Cheaper
If you’re thinking about switching out your older oil heating unit, chances are you’re already comparing oil and gas heating and are crunching the numbers to see which is the cheaper option. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, heating a home with oil can cost around $1,700 a year on average, but it’s only a little over $700 a year for gas. When oil prices peak, the cost to heat with oil can be, on average, around $2,000 a year. Heating with natural gas at peak prices, however, would only be $900 annually. Oil heat can typically be up to 50% more each year than gas heat.
Keep in mind that a utility company pipes natural gas right into your home, unlike oil which comes by truck delivery. Therefore, switching to gas will require there to be a gas main under your road. Most suburban and urban areas have gas lines, even in the Northeast’s oil-dominated neighborhoods. If your neighborhood doesn’t, you can try to get enough neighbors to come together and put in a request to convince the utility company to come and install a gas main.
Also, if you’re making the switch, there are some upfront costs to consider, such as the costs of equipment and hookup installation. Oil-fired equipment costs more than gas-fired equipment, but there are two components to the gas connection process: setting up connections inside your home and outside your home. The utility company runs an underground pipe to your home from the gas main and installs a meter. There are upfront costs to this, as well as other associated costs. However, at the current oil prices, you’ll likely get your upfront costs back in less than five years through your fuel-cost savings.
2. Secure Your Investment
Investment security is among the most convincing reasons to make the switch to gas heat. You’ll find oil prices constantly fluctuate. Not only this, but oil is a finite natural source that’s becoming scarcer. This translates to insecurity with the cost of oil since it’s most likely going to continue going up and cost you more each year to heat your home.
Along with this, certain countries are moving to ban new oil heating system installations in an effort to tackle climate change. While this hasn’t occurred in the U.S. yet, it could be a possibility in the future. When you combine all the above factors, gas heat becomes a great option to ensure you’re heating your home cost-effectively.
3. Easy and Efficient to Maintain
Older heating equipment may only be around 50% to 80% efficient, and this wastes a lot of the fuel you buy. Newer natural gas boilers and furnaces have an up to 98% efficiency rating, which translates to less energy required to maintain a comfortable home in the winter.
While it’s important to consider energy efficiency, it won’t really matter unless your furnace operates at peak performance. Maintenance is essential if you want to guarantee a properly functioning heating system. But, when it comes to how much maintenance is required, it will vary between oil and gas heat.
Throughout the year, gas furnaces require minimal maintenance since they’re considered clean. Oil furnaces, on the other hand, burn less clean than gas and, therefore, require more frequent and thorough maintenance because debris and dirt can collect on the inside of the unit. The costs of oil or gas heat will also depend on the maintenance required.
4. Clean and Green
Of all fossil fuels, natural gas is the cleanest. This makes it better than oil for the environment. It’s good to know you’ll be emitting up to 100% less sulfur dioxide and 40% fewer greenhouse gases and reducing your environmental footprint with a new natural gas heating system.
5. Increase the Value of Your Home
Converting to natural gas heat can also help you add to your home’s value and increase how many potential buyers will even look at your home since it’s an expense they won’t have to think about until a later date. Many potential homebuyers will only look at homes with natural gas heat. So, installing a new gas system can lead to a quicker home sale.
6. Gas Furnaces Run Quietly
If your oil furnace isn’t in the basement but closer to the living spaces of your home, you’ll notice a lot of the noise it makes. Gas furnaces are much quieter, so you won’t notice as much noise from your heating system. Keep in mind that this won’t be as much of an issue if your furnace (gas or oil) is located in your basement. But, it’s something to take into consideration, especially if your heating system is in or near your living spaces.
It’s always a good time to make the switch to gas heat, so don’t wait until your old oil boiler or furnace stops working on a cold winter day to reach out to us for help. Ensure your continued comfort by making the switch to gas heat now. While you will have an initial investment to make the switch from oil to gas, it will eventually pay itself back with the money you save each year in heating costs. A new heating unit can be one of the largest purchases you’ll make as a homeowner, but gas heating is a far more economical and energy-wise fuel choice, which is why many homeowners are deciding to make the switch.
Hire the Professionals to Make the Switch for Your Home Today
Converting from oil to gas heating will require a trained professional. You don’t want to leave your new heating unit installation in the hands of just anyone. Converting from oil to more efficient gas heat will be a whole lot simpler when done by a trusted HVAC professional.
Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating provides oil-to-gas conversion services for customers throughout Hanover, MD and the surrounding area. With our help, you can enjoy all the benefits mentioned here. In addition to our conversion services, our team repairs, maintains, and installs furnaces and air conditioners. We also provide duct cleaning and custom ductwork installation, indoor air quality solutions, and commercial HVAC services. Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
