Switching the fuel source from oil to gas is where the added expense comes in.
Changing from oil to propane furnace.
As oil to propane boiler conversions become increasingly popular in the northeast a similar trend is spreading in the forced air heating market.
Converting from electric baseboard heating or a boiler system in this case your home most likely doesn t have any ductwork which makes the switch much more complicated and costly.
However the lower fuel cost makes a gas furnace cheaper to operate and the relatively clean burning fuel is.
How does the cost of propane rank against oil natural gas and electricity.
Installing ductwork throughout your house is a big job and usually requires a heat loss calculation be done by an engineer costs about 500 800.
We also have talked about putting in a propane tank as we will eventually do the kitchen and want a gas stove we hate cooking on electric and may eventually add a propane fireplace.
Since we already are removing the oil tank and boiler and want to put in propane for cooking should we just convert the heating system to.
Almost any existing oil burner can be converted to propane gas with the carlin conversion gas burner by the pros at combined energy services when used for year round heating special programs that subsidize the cost of the conversion are available call for details.
Assuming propane is available in your area cost is likely your next consideration.
First it is important to note that each of these fuels generates heat differently.
500 annual savings is an estimate based on average propane and furnace oil prices in select markets switching from a 74 or lower efficiency oil furnace to a 93 or higher propane furnace.
Contractors and homeowners are switching away from fuel oil to gain efficiency comfort and reduced maintenance with propane or natural gas furnaces.
Propane and natural gas are highly incendiary fuels and as such should only be handled by professionals who know what they are doing.
Total cost for replacing an oil furnace with a gas furnace.
The technician will need to examine your propane or oil gas furnace to determine whether it can be converted or whether it will be more cost effective to replace it with a new modern natural gas furnace.
The cost of the furnace and basic installation is going to be very comparable whether you choose oil or gas.
In total you might expect to spend 3500 8000 to switch from an oil or electric forced air furnace to a high efficiency propane or natural gas system.
One gallon of heating oil burned with 100 efficiency would generate 138 690 btu of heat.
A new heat pump would cost a homeowner 25 600 to buy and operate over 15 years compared to 26 900 for a replacement furnace that continues burning heating oil or 39 200 for propane.
The average cost of a furnace and installation is under 5 000.
