How Much Does it Cost to Convert From Oil to Natural Gas?

If you’re a New Jersey homeowner or business owner that’s currently using heating oil, you may be thinking about switching to natural gas. Before you take the leap, there are some significant factors to consider to make an informed decision about which heating fuel is best for you.

While natural gas is considered a clean energy source, natural gas extraction techniques are under harsh scrutiny by regulators and environmentalist groups. And despite being cheaper than heating oil, the costs of switching your heating system from oil to natural gas can be quite expensive. In fact, the cost may be so high that you find it isn’t worth the effort to convert from heating oil to natural gas. The exact price of making the switch varies depending on a number of factors, including where you’re located and how large your home or business is. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other reasons switching from heating oil to natural gas might be more trouble than its worth.

The Costs of Converting From Heating Oil to Natural Gas

Before we get into the costs of converting from heating oil to natural gas, it’s important to know the facts about heating oil. Not only do current heating oil systems burn at a much more efficient and cleaner rate than ever before, there’s now the option to receive Bioheat® fuel. If you already have a heating system that burns oil, making the change to Bioheat® fuel doesn’t require any additional effort on your end. Bioheat® fuel is a low-carbon blend of renewable resources and ultra-low sulfur home heating oil that allows you to shrink your carbon footprint without any expensive conversions. 

You deserve to be an informed consumer, so those conversion costs must be considered carefully before you make a decision. The following are just a few of the costs that a homeowner or business owner will have to pay for when converting from heating oil to natural gas:

• Heating system replacement – If you’re a New Jersey homeowner or business owner that decides to convert from heating oil to natural gas, you will first have to pay to switch heating systems. This may include having to purchase a new boiler or furnace and a new water heater, depending on your current setup. That sounds costly enough, but it gets worse: heating systems that use heating oil as their fuel are cheaper to buy. It’s also important to keep in mind that heating oil systems typically have a longer lifespan, oftentimes lasting for an average of 30 years or more. Compare that to the lifespan of a natural gas furnace installation, which is usually between 11 and 14 years.
• Oil tank removal – When you convert from heating oil to natural gas, you aren’t going to want to have your oil tank on your property anymore. An unused oil tank can present costly problems down the road, especially if you ever decide to sell your home. Since an oil tank can’t exactly just be thrown away, you have to pay to have it removed from your property. This generally requires a permit from the city or town where you live, which can cost at least a few hundred dollars. Then you have to find a licensed contractor to remove the oil tank, which is a complex and expensive process even if the tank is in perfect condition; if it has cracks, rust, or leaks, it may be even more pricey. Properly removal of an oil tank can cost thousands of dollars, and after the tank is gone, you will most likely have to re-landscape your property to repair any damage done by people, trucks, and the tank itself.
• Building permits and inspections – You may need to acquire permits for the installation of new gas lines and equipment, depending on your location and local regulations and ordinances. The costs of these permits can vary widely, so it’s difficult to give an exact estimate. Additionally, after the installation, you might have to pay for inspections to ensure that your new gas system meets safety and building code requirements.
• Gas line installation – You can’t get natural gas delivered into your home or business without a gas line. The cost to install a gas line will vary depending on the complexity of the job, the materials, the labor, and how long the gas line runs. To cover all facets of the job, you can expect to pay at least $15 per foot of gas line, but depending on specifics it can be more.

Related Post: The Most Energy Efficient Home Heating Sources

Oil to Gas Conversions in New Jersey

Heating oil systems have become much more efficient over the years, and converting to a natural gas system can be very expensive. Add in the advantages of heating with Bioheat® fuel, and it becomes clear that converting from heating oil to natural gas is probably not worth it. If you would like more information about oil to gas conversion services in Northern New Jersey – or if you want to start heating with Bioheat® fuel – contact Woolley Home Solutions today.