Energy utilities can be a costly expense, so why wouldn’t homeowners look for a way to lower their monthly heating bill? While there are a number of ways to heat your home including propane and electricity, the two most common methods are gas and oil. Due to New England’s typically older homes, most are equipped with oil. In fact, New England accounts for around 85% of the country’s residential heating oil.
Like anything else, there are pros and cons to both gas and oil, but many people tend to prefer gas because of its low cost and energy efficiency. If your home runs on oil and you’re interested in converting to gas, BDL Heating and Cooling has you covered with all the information you need including cost, benefits, and next steps.
Why should I convert from oil to gas?
There are a number of benefits that come with converting your heating system from oil to gas. As we mentioned above, gas is typically cheaper month over month compared to oil, and because gas provides less heat per BTU (British thermal unit) than oil, gas is more efficient. While both do require furnaces, gas furnaces are usually smaller and require less space. Here are a few other reasons you may want to consider converting from oil to gas:
Cost-efficient
Not only is the cost of fuel cheaper than oil, but it’s also more accessible, therefore more affordable than oil. While it can be an investment to convert (more on that later), most homes who converted to gas saw savings in their heating bills each month. You can also be rewarded by the government for converting to gas! You may be eligible for federal tax credits or rebates from the state of Massachusetts.
Low maintenance and sustainable
While gas furnaces still require maintenance including annual cleanings, safety tests, efficiency tests, and more, they are more low maintenance than oil. Because gas burns cleaner than oil, it’s better for the environment and more efficient. Oil also requires tanks to be refilled by an oil truck on a regular basis. Gas, on the other hand, is directed to the source through a pipeline, so no manual refilling is required.
Reliable and flexible
The sole purpose of oil is to heat your home, whereas gas can serve multiple purposes. From heating your water and drying your clothes to lighting a gas fireplace and igniting your stove, gas can serve your home in a multitude of ways. By utilizing one energy source for multiple appliances, you’ll be saving money overall. Additionally, because gas is supplied via underline pipes, it may continue to function even under emergency conditions. Due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, oil deliveries may be delayed or interrupted.
I’ve decided I want to convert. Now what?
If you’d like to convert your heating system from oil to gas, there are a few steps you need to take:
- Before anything else, call your local gas company to see if you have a gas line that goes into your home.
- If there is a gas line, the gas company will come out to see how far your home is from a line and determine the availability of gas. They’ll most likely give you an estimate for how much it will cost to bring the gas line from the street to your home.
- Contact BDL Heating and Cooling to choose the right system for your home.
- After selecting a system, BDL will install and inspect your new equipment and once it passes inspection, the gas company will install a meter.
How much will the conversion cost me?
Depending on the equipment chosen and your home’s proximity to a gas line, the price of converting from oil to gas can vary. Higher energy-efficient systems may be more expensive up front, but making that one-time investment can save you money over time. Other associated costs may be from the gas company to bring the line to your home or the removal of your oil tank and equipment.
