If you heat your home with oil, you know the routine: keeping an eye on the tank, scheduling deliveries and watching oil prices change from one heating season to the next. At some point, especially as your heating system gets older, you may start wondering whether it makes sense to switch to natural gas.
An oil-to-gas conversion can eliminate oil deliveries and storage while giving you the opportunity to upgrade to newer, more efficient heating equipment. Want to know if this is the right fit for you? It all depends on your home, your existing system, and the availability of natural gas. Here’s what to consider before making the switch.
Why Convert from Oil to Gas?
Convenience is one of the biggest advantages. Natural gas comes directly to your home, so there’s no tank to monitor, no deliveries to schedule, and no risk of running low during a cold stretch.
Converting can also be an opportunity to replace older equipment with a modern, high-efficiency gas boiler or furnace. Also, for homeowners with an oil tank taking up valuable basement space, removing it can be another great benefit.
Can Your Home Be Converted?
Before choosing new equipment, there’s a more basic question to answer: Is natural gas available at your home?
If you already have gas service for another appliance, the process may be relatively straightforward. If not, you’ll need to determine whether there’s a gas main on your street and whether service can be brought to your property.
From there, a heating professional can evaluate your existing system, determine the right equipment for your home, and identify any changes needed to the gas piping, venting, or the chimney.
What Does an Oil-to-Gas Conversion Involve?
The project involves more than simply swapping an oil boiler or furnace for a gas model.
Typically, the existing oil equipment is disconnected and removed, the oil tank is properly addressed, and the new gas boiler or furnace is installed. Depending on the home, the project may also require new gas piping or changes to the existing chimney or venting system.
Every home is a little different, so an on-site evaluation is the best way to understand exactly what a conversion will require.
How Much Does It Cost?
When it comes to cost there is no particular number. The cost of converting depends on the heating equipment you choose, whether your home already has gas service, the amount of new piping required, what needs to happen with the existing oil tank and whether venting or chimney work is needed.
Instead of relying on a broad national average, an on-site evaluation can give you a much more realistic picture of the investment for your particular home.
When Does Converting Make the Most Sense?
If you have a relatively new oil system that’s working reliably, there may not be a compelling reason to replace it simply because natural gas is available.
The same is true if your oil tank needs replacement, repairs are becoming more frequent, or you’re already planning a significant heating upgrade.
Here in Massachusetts, where many homes still rely on oil heat, it’s worth having that conversation before your existing system makes the decision for you.
Thinking About Making the Switch?
If your oil heating system is getting older, now is a good time to understand your options rather than waiting for it to possibly fail in the middle of winter.
J. Griffin Heating, Plumbing & Cooling can evaluate your existing system, walk you through the oil-to-gas conversion process, and help determine whether making the switch makes sense for your home. Contact us to schedule an evaluation and learn what an oil-to-gas conversion would involve.