While over half of all U.S. homeowners heat with natural gas, as many as 7% of families still rely upon oil-fired boilers and boilers, as stated by this”New York Times.” In 2012 oil prices reached record highs, creating a switch to natural gas, which remains among the very economical home heating fuels, an option to be considered. Understand that the costs and benefits of conversion to find out whether gas heating is the right choice for your loved ones Prior to making the switch.
Access to Gas Lines
Unlike petroleum, which companies deliver to your house and shop natural gas comes in pipelines. When considering a move to natural 22, finding out if natural gas lines run on your area should be your first step. Contact your utility company to find out whether gas lines operate on your road or near your property. If lines are prohibitively far from your house, stick to oil or elect for electric or propane heat rather.
Investing in a New Furnace
Homeowners hoping to switch from oil to gasoline may need to shell out big bucks for a brand new gas-fired furnace. While low-efficiency furnaces can be found for just a few thousand bucks, the most effective components cost upwards of $10,000 as of 2014. When weighing the cost of a new unit, compute potential savings in the form of energy efficiency tax credits and incentives, like rebates, provided by local government or utility companies. Your utility company may give you a low-interest loan to assist you swap your current heating system for a brand new high-efficiency model.
Making the Link
The expense of the furnace itself is just a piece of this puzzle. Homeowners who already have gas lines running into the house for cooking or hot water heating will pay less to connect a brand new gas furnace than those who have no present gas lines. In minimum, be ready to pay an installer to set up your new furnace, then connect it to the gas meter and perhaps update your chimney liner. Those with no current gas appliances will also need to pay someone to set up a new gas line in the road to the house, which involves some landscaping or paving to repair damage to the yard or driveway. Your municipality may require you to eliminate your old oil tank when shifting to gasoline, which may cost a few thousand dollars, based on its size and where it is installed.
Energy Savings
While switching from oil to gas heating comes with a substantial upfront expense, in addition, it comes with significant energy savings every month. As of September 2013, it costs $9.19 to create a thousand BTU of heat using natural gas, compared to $37.33 using heating oil, as stated by the U.S. Energy Information Association. Homeowners in moderate climate zones could expect to pay $459.50 to create 50 million BTU of heat utilizing gasoline, compared to a whopping $1,866.50 using petroleum. Switching to natural gas within this case will slash energy bills by 75 percent, while people in cooler regions could save even more.