According to the US Energy Information Administration, oil heat has been 30% to 50% more expensive than gas annually since 2002. If you want to reduce your heating costs and you feel it is time to replace your oil system, you will need to do some research.
Converting an oil-fired boiler to a gas system is a significant home comfort upgrade. Oil to gas conversions that are expertly done create additional usable space and eliminates expensive heating expenditures during times of rising oil prices.
What are the perks of switching from oil to gas?
You save money on heating
It goes without saying that you will save money as the oil prices are on an upward trajectory. This means you will pay substantially less to heat your home using natural gas rather than oil. While prices fluctuate over time, fuel oil is still about twice as expensive as natural gas. Even with the cost of switching your home to natural gas, you will break even in a few years.
Not only is gas cheaper to use for heating, natural gas furnaces and boilers are also less expensive and more energy efficient than oil-fired equipment. That saves you much more money in the long run.
Most oil-burning heaters have an efficiency rating of around 70%, while others can reach a maximum of 87 percent. Natural gas heating systems can achieve maximum efficiency of up to 98%. High-efficiency furnaces can help you obtain more heat from your gas while saving you money.
You get to reduce the carbon footprint
Converting to natural gas also helps you protect the environment. Oil-burning appliances emit byproducts that hurt the environment and contribute to global warming. Natural gas is a fossil fuel, but it has significantly fewer negative consequences than oil.
Burning natural gas does not emit sulfur dioxide. While it does emit carbon emissions, they are less than 60% of those produced by heating oil.
On the other hand, burning oil emits both sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, also known as greenhouse gases. Heating oils, particularly heavier number 4 and 6 oils, have such a significant influence on air quality that legislation has been proposed to phase them out.
You have a cleaner, healthier home
Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel currently available. As people’s concerns about indoor air quality have grown, it’s no wonder that homes want to change from oil to gas.
Cleaner air leads to greater health for you and your family. By removing the oil heat, you may also reduce the soot and black particles that can accumulate from a badly functioning oil furnace.
Things to do before converting oil to gas
Decide on whether to go for natural gas or propane
For many homeowners, changing oil to natural gas is simple. Many utility companies offer natural gas as a utility, piped straight into your home. This is by far the most preferred and popular choice.
When switching to natural gas is impractical, consumers may choose to convert from oil to propane.
As a homeowner you are better off switching to natural gas instead of propane if possible. Here’s why propane isn’t the best choice:
- It usually takes more effort in the long run.
- It produces less heat but more harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide.
- Shortages can cause dramatic price increases, raising the cost of heating your house.
Ensure natural gas is available in your home area
Natural gas is typically piped into your home via a pipe, much like other utilities. The majority of communities already have natural gas lines installed.
Gas lines are classified into two types: main and service lines. A main line transports natural gas throughout a block or neighborhood. In contrast, a service line links your home to the main line.
If you already have a natural gas service line in your home, simply call the utility company to get it turned on.
In most cases, you will find yourself in one of two scenarios:
- There’s a main gas line, but no service connection to your house.
- There’s no main or service line.
Your street probably already has a main gas line. This is good news because trenching and installing a service line is faster and less expensive than building a main line.
Installing a service line and meter normally takes two to three weeks. If you live in a community without a main gas connection, the conversion process may take longer.
Construction on a main line typically takes four to six months and can be significantly more expensive for other people.
If you find yourself in this situation the best way out is to band together with other neighbors. Utility providers frequently split costs among the homes that will receive gas service. This can reduce the cost of transitioning to natural gas.
How to go about converting your home from oil to gas
Converting oil to natural gas can take only a few weeks to have your equipment up and operating. The conversion of oil to gas involves four steps:
- Connect with the natural gas supply.
- Obtain permits and approvals.
- Ensure that your home has appropriate piping for natural gas.
- Install or adapt your existing equipment to use natural gas.
Whenever possible, you should purchase natural gas-powered equipment rather than converting oil-burning equipment. Natural gas-specific equipment is more efficient than converted equipment, requiring less fuel to create the same amount of heat.
If your oil equipment is in good condition and does not require any substantial repairs, an oil to gas conversion kit may be the most practical option.
Conversion kits are also available for most appliances. These kits allow you to replace the oil-burning component of your current equipment with a gas orifice. The rest of your equipment remains the same.
The most popular conversion is to a natural gas-powered oil heater. To convert, you will need to install a natural gas burner in your current oil furnace. Here you remove the old oil tank to prevent the risk of fire and contamination.
You should note that you can buy oil to gas conversion kits and convert an appliance yourself. However, it’s always wise to hire a licensed furnace service Port Jefferson technician to do the conversion for you.