We are sometimes the last ones to know when a customer switches from oil to natural gas; nevertheless, this should not be the case! As a fuel-neutral company, we offer a wide range of products and services for all types of fuel (and yes, this includes the installation and service of natural gas equipment). Most importantly, we offer experienced guidance on selecting the appropriate fuel and equipment for your house. Because no two homes or families are alike, they should not be treated in the same way; it is critical to get all of the information and consult an expert before signing on the signed line.
The following are five things you should know about switching to natural gas that the gas company and many HVAC contractors will not tell you:
The average cost of a conversion is between $8,000 and $12,000. Converting from oil to natural gas is far more difficult and costly than most people believe.
You are the job’s General Contractor. The homeowner is frequently required to obtain their own permits and supervise the work.
Time to respond. Getting in touch with someone at the gas company can take months, and scheduling a conversion can take even longer. When you convert, don’t anticipate prompt assistance if you have an issue.
Conversion to natural gas has a long payback period, possibly never. Because of the incredibly low cost of heating oil today, along with the efficiency of contemporary heating oil equipment, the payback period for changing to heating oil can be as little as one year.
Natural gas’s future in Connecticut The Northeast Energy Direct, a $3.3 billion natural gas extension project, was just canceled, which means that if demand in the area rises, there will be no new pipeline to meet the need. Without adequate supply, prices may rise and homes may become uninhabitable. (For further information, go to http://cour.at/1WnJhUK.) )
Is it worthwhile to switch to natural gas?
Many homeowners ask whether heating their houses with natural gas rather than heating oil is better for the environment, their budget, and their personal preferences. While it’s general knowledge that heating oil is the more expensive option for heating your home, there are other advantages to natural gas conversion for your home besides financial savings.
Natural Gas is Cost-Effective
The expense of heating your home using heating oil is often higher than the cost of heating with natural gas. While the upfront cost of upgrading to a gas furnace is higher, the overall benefits outweigh the higher upfront cost. Natural gas is more accessible and less expensive than heating oil, which is becoming increasingly pricey over time.
Natural Gas is Versatile
You can do a lot more with natural gas than just heat your house. Natural gas is utilized for a variety of household purposes, including heating your swimming pool, heating your water, cooking, drying clothing, and lighting your gas fireplace. It’s not just a one-time project; switching to gas might save you money in the long run. When your gas supply can be used in a variety of ways, you can save money on a variety of things and make life easier.
Natural Gas is Convenient
Natural gas’s convenience is clear. It comes from a subterranean conduit, ensuring that you will never run out of gas. You are not responsible for checking gas levels at any time, unlike heating oil, which must be checked to ensure that your supply does not run low. You’ll have more time in your day to focus on the things that matter most to you, such as your children and your home. An oil furnace necessitates the delivery of oil as well as the monitoring of levels to guarantee that they remain high enough to keep your home warm in the meantime.
Another advantage of natural gas is that your supply is unlikely to be interrupted. You don’t have to be concerned about your natural gas supply being interrupted by the next storm or a power outage. Furthermore, while using natural gas as a heating source, there is nothing to clean. Finally, natural gas takes very little time to warm up. Heat is provided promptly and without the stink of heating oil in your home and water.
Natural Gas is Safe
Given that the vast majority of households prefer natural gas to oil heating solutions on a daily basis, natural gas’s safety is undeniable. Cleaning natural gas furnaces is not necessary. Unlike oil furnaces, which require meticulous cleaning, there are no ashes to worry about.
Natural Gas is Reliable
There’s nothing more reassuring than knowing that your home will always be warm and comfortable. Natural gas is delivered to your home via an underground conduit that requires no effort from you. When the power goes out, you’ll still have heat and access to a number of your gas appliances and things, allowing you to cook and take hot showers. You also won’t have to remember to call the oil provider to schedule a delivery, check levels, or go out of your way to make sure your home has everything it needs to be warm. Everything has been taken care of on your behalf.
Natural Gas Requires Less Maintenance
Oil furnaces must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis to keep your house safe and your furnace operational. Your natural gas supply does not create a mess, emit ashes, or necessitate routine maintenance. When you pick natural gas to heat your home, you’ll have to do a lot less upkeep.
Natural is Environmentally Friendly
Natural gas is exactly what it says it is. This means that natural gas generation is more cost-effective than heating your home with oil. There is no burn and no chemicals are released into the environment. Natural gas heating keeps you as environmentally friendly as possible.
Natural Gas is Abundant
There’s no reason to be concerned that your natural gas supply will run out or that your costs will rise. Natural gas is plentiful and easy to obtain in the United States. Your supply is in good hands, and they will not put you in a position where your supply is reduced while your payments increase.
Natural Gas Expands Your Home’s Abilities
As previously said, installing natural gas in your home expands your home’s capabilities. If you opt to install a pool, you will not be able to heat it naturally with gas. You can easily modernize your old and tired kitchen with new gas-powered equipment. Because your home is now prepared to take on that kind of modification, you can add a natural gas fireplace to your home.
Natural Gas Increases Your Home’s Value
Nothing is more advantageous to a home than adding something that will only raise its value. When you make any alterations to your property, resale value is always a factor, and installing a natural gas heating system is no exception. Natural gas heating will not only raise the value of your home, but it will also boost the amount of potential buyers interested in seeing it. It’s an expense that a buyer won’t have to worry about adding at a later date, and future buyers will appreciate its simplicity and dependability.
Is switching from propane to natural gas expensive?
Converting from propane to natural gas has a lot of hidden costs. With natural gas costing at least a third less than propane, making the transition may be worthwhile in the long run. Customers can use calculators on most natural gas suppliers’ websites to evaluate costs and savings. If natural gas is coming to your neighborhood, a company representative will knock on your door to offer you a preliminary assessment.
What is the cost of converting a gas engine to a natural gas engine?
Depending on the source, the style of conversion (dedicated or bifuel), and state-issued rebates, conversions for compressed natural gas vehicles can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $13,000. Despite the large price range, most consumer car adaptations cost between $5,000 and $8,000. As the number of organizations that convert cars decreases, the cost of converting a car decreases as well.
Is it true that gas raises the value of a home?
McGarty claims that many purchasers are looking for natural gas because they want a gas range. He questions their reasoning and provides alternatives because of Seattle’s reliance on power. According to him, several clientele, including a food scientist and a couple of doctors with young children, preferred induction cooktops.
“If they’re set on gas, we go through the process of determining whether gas is available on the street, how much it would cost to have it delivered to the house, and then which appliances they’d like to convert to gas,” he adds.
While some buyers may not have a preference, Monaghan points out that they value versatility. “Adding a specific dollar value does not boost marketability as much as adding a specific dollar value.” “It gives you a variety of possibilities,” he says. Some builders will incorporate not just a high-powered 220-volt outlet but also a gas pipe vent in the kitchen or laundry room. “It’s possible to have the best of both worlds.”
What’s the bottom line? Your existing heat source, as well as the vicinity of any natural gas pipeline, are important factors to consider while considering whether or not to switch.
“It all depends on what the house’s present heat source is. “If it’s an old oil setup, converting to gas may be good,” McGarty explains. “Gas isn’t providing any value if it already has an induction cooktop and a heat pump for heat.” It isn’t necessary to do so.”
Is it true that installing a gas line increases the value of a home?
Many people update their kitchen or master bathroom over time. These two rooms are typically the most essential selling elements of any property, and they are where home prices are established. Another aspect that has a significant impact on home value is the type of energy used in the property.
Many prospective buyers give little thought to their energy source when relocating or creating a new house. They basically just grab what’s already there. However, as more homeowners and builders opt for natural gas over alternatives such as oil and propane, this is beginning to change.
Natural gas is more efficient, cleaner, safer, more consistent, and less expensive than any other fuel. Natural gas just outperforms oil and propane. Oil and propane rely on the “convenience” factor in that they do not require a pipeline to reach your home; instead, the energy source is kept in above-ground or underground tanks. These tanks can be quite unsightly. When given the option, homebuyers and builders are increasingly opting for natural gas as their preferred energy source.
Natural gas homes have a 4% higher market value than oil or propane homes, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As a result, several areas without natural gas pipelines are organizing campaigns to bring natural gas to their streets.
Is heating with oil or natural gas less expensive?
EarthTalk Greetings: Is it true that gas furnaces are less expensive to operate and burn cleaner than oil furnaces? How long do you think it will take me to recoup my original investment if I make the switch? Are there any greener alternatives I should think about?
In recent years, natural gas has become a more economical heat source for Americans than oil. According to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average American homeowner will spend $732 to heat their home with gas this winter season (October 1 to March 31), compared to $2,535 for oil heat. While natural gas prices have been relatively steady in recent years, oil prices have remained high and growing, owing in part to ongoing upheaval in Middle Eastern oil-producing countries. The average winter home oil heating cost was $1,752 just two years ago.
While oil prices are predicted to stay high and volatile in the near future, most energy analysts think that natural gas prices, which are still largely derived domestically, are unlikely to rise or fluctuate much in the United States anytime soon. The United States already has a natural gas glut, according to EIA economist and forecaster Neil Gamson, and he expects even more domestic production to come online shortly as drillers prepare to open up the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and New York to greater gas development.
Oil heat is used in just approximately 8% of American houses today. The majority are in the Northeastern United States and were constructed when oil was the cheapest way to stay warm during the long winters. Many utilities have since installed gas lines in formerly unserviced areas, allowing homeowners to move from inefficient oil furnaces to more efficient gas furnaces.
The federal government’s 30% tax credit (limited at $500) for upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace expires at the end of 2011, but it will almost certainly be renewed in some form in 2012. Meanwhile, several governments, towns, and utilities provide their own incentives and low-interest loans for high-efficiency furnaces that have been renovated. On the website of the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, you can see what’s available in your area by using a zip code or a map-based search (DSIRE). Regardless of incentives, gas furnaces are less expensive than oil furnaces, but building one from the ground up will cost an extra thousand dollars or more due to the cost of running a gas line from the street. In most situations, the fuel cost savings alone would pay for the up-front equipment and infrastructure expenditure within five years if natural gas remains much cheaper than oil.
Gas emits fewer greenhouse gases than oil, but hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), a highly controversial gas extraction method in which drillers inject water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure underground to break through rock and access natural gas, has a significant impact on nearby ecosystems and regional water quality. Most environmentalists prefer to see people switch to truly renewable heating sources such as geothermal or solar. If you’re going to the trouble of replacing an oil furnace, a geothermal heat pump may cost more ($7,500 and higher) than a new gas heating system up front, but it will save you money and emissions in the long term. Solar heating systems are more expensive up front for individuals who live in consistently sunny places, but they can provide similar long-term economic and environmental benefits.
How can I make the transition to natural gas?
You can install a gas furnace, a gas boiler, or a hybrid system to convert your home to natural gas. The heat pump must be replaced when installing a gas furnace, but the air ducts can be kept. With a gas boiler, both the heat pump and the air ducts must be replaced.
Is it cheaper to heat with oil than with gas?
Gas is less expensive than oil (Fuel) When it comes to fuel prices, gas is less expensive than oil.
Natural gas has a more consistent supply and demand than oil, which appears to be more volatile and vulnerable to demand and supply.
This could be one of the reasons why gas heats more than half of American houses, compared to only 8% for oil heat.
It just necessitates minor upkeep. Because gas burns cleaner than heating oil, a gas-fueled furnace requires little upkeep.
Nontoxic and nonpoisonous gas Gas is harmless, so if it escapes, it won’t contaminate the land or groundwater. As a result, gas tanks can be placed underground without causing any harm.
Natural gas or propane: which is better?
While choosing a fuel for your home, consider its safety, cost, efficiency, and environmental impact when making your decision. For each of the aforementioned concerns, you’ll find everything you need to know about the benefits and drawbacks of natural gas and propane.
Safety
Both fuels are extremely combustible and should be handled with extreme caution. However, because of the infrastructure (and bureaucratic red tape) associated with natural gas pipes, leaks can be difficult to detect and repair. This is because, before taking action, utility firms and the public utility commission must agree on how to fund repairs or upgrades.
For instance, in 2010 a natural gas line owned by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) exploded in San Bruno, Calif., killing eight people. The gas pipe was found to be damaged after an inquiry, and PG&E had previously been ignorant of the damage.
Although propane tanks have the potential to explode, this is a much less common scenario. Because propane tanks aren’t connected to a large network of gas lines, the impact is minimal.
Furthermore, while some natural gas suppliers add a sulfur fragrance to make it easier to notice a leak, natural gas leaks can be difficult to detect because the fuel is odorless in its natural state.
Propane is considered a safer heating fuel due to the severity of a mishap, however rare it may be.
Environment
Despite the fact that natural gas is a greenhouse gas, it produces half as much emissions as coal. Even yet, it has a higher toxicity than propane, which is neither hazardous nor harmful to the environment. If propane were to leak into the earth, it would have no effect on the water or soil in the area.
Nonetheless, both are still considered environmentally beneficial fuels. However, we give propane a minor advantage as a green fuel in this round.
Cost and Efficiency
The exact cost of propane vs. natural gas for your home is determined by a variety of factors, including whether or not your home is equipped for the fuels. However, for the purposes of this comparison, we’ll look at the cost of propane and natural gas in terms of BTUs and gallons.
The average cost of natural gas was $6.23 per 1,000 cubic feet, or nearly one million BTUs, at the time this article was written. Propane costs $2.41 a gallon on average in the United States. Natural gas contains approximately 11.20 litres of propane per million BTUs. That implies you’ll spend $6.23 for natural gas and $26.99 for propane for the same amount of fuel.
The more efficient the gasoline, the less you’ll consume, which affects the total cost. Furthermore, propane is the more efficient fuel in general.
Propane has 2,516 BTUs per cubic foot, while natural gas has 1,030 BTUs per cubic foot. Propane has more than double the energy content of natural gas.
Natural gas has a lower cost per gallon, but you’ll require more of it to heat the same appliances. Naturally, if you receive two times the heat from propane, you’ll need less of it.