Choosing between oil and gas heat can be difficult. There are so many factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as where you are located and how much you are willing to pay for your heating system. We’ve broken down what you need to know so that you can choose the right system for your home.
Gas Heating System
Gas heating systems burn natural gas to create heat for your home. Not only has this type of heat been known to actually feel more comfortable, but it is very convenient and reliable. To install gas heating in your home, you will need a gas line installed (if not already present), running from your home to a gas main on your street. If you have gas on your street or are not sure you can check with your neighbors or you can call the local gas company to ask. In areas where the gas is present at the street, many times having 1 gas appliance at the home means the gas company will bring the gas to your home from the street at no charge. A furnace is considered as 1 gas appliance.
If there is no gas main on the street where you live, this can pose a problem though not impossible to overcome. You would need to gather other neighbors also interested in gas heating to convince the township to add a gas main. If you contact the gas company in your area they can give you more information on how to specifically work with them to have gas brought to your neighborhood.
Many people choose gas heating systems for the following reasons:
- Environmentally Friendly: Gas heating burns in a “cleaner” way than its oil counterpart.
- Price: Oil prices fluctuate up and down constantly. There are many factors that contribute to the price of oil and it can be unpredictable. Gas prices do not fluctuate nearly as much.
- No Need For Electricity: Since gas lines are below utility lines, they are not affected when there is a loss of power due to a storm or other weather conditions.
- Produced in the USA: Natural gas is produced on our home soil. This means that we do not need to worry about getting this resource from foreign countries. For some people, this is a huge plus to gas heating as this also means that this form of heating produces jobs here in our country.
Oil Heating System
The oil that is used for heating derives from fossil fuels, which are the remains of dead sea animals and plants that become hydrocarbons. Unlike gas heating, oil heat gets delivered from a truck and is more accessible and less expensive in certain areas of the country that produce oil.
Many people choose oil heating for the following reasons:
Readily Available: There is a lot of oil available around the world. The fact that there is such a large quantity of it, makes it particularly popular. It’s also easy to deliver to your home with no gas lines needed as mentioned before.
Lifespan: Believe it or not, oil burners have a lifespan of 25 years compared to their gas burner counterpart that has a lifespan of about 12 years.
Price: Oil furnaces are less expensive than gas furnaces. Gas furnaces can actually be up to 25% more expensive than oil furnaces. It’s important to remember here that oil prices are unreliable, so this does not necessarily mean that oil heating is less expensive in the long run.
What’s right for you?
Due to the uncertainty of oil prices, combined with the environmentally friendly nature of gas heating systems, many people have looked into the cost and ability to convert from oil to gas heating. While it can be cost-effective, remember that the most important aspect of switching from oil to gas is the availability of gas where your home is located. If there is a gas main, you are able to run the line from your home to that gas main which is the most integral part of this process.
Also, because a gas heating system is a “cleaner” heat there are many rebates and incentives in the state of NJ that can really help you save money on a very efficient, reliable new gas heating system. In order to take advantage of all of these items, you need to hire a certified and trained contractor, like Raynor Services, who has been approved to be contractors in these programs.
For more information about switching from oil to gas heating and how to take advantage of all the rebate and incentive programs, contact the team at Raynor Services today!
