Heating your home can be an expensive proposition, especially if you have an older home. We know many people who are just tired of the yearly conversation about whether they should buy their heating oil up front or as they go through the Winter. It feels like a yearly game of roulette where their budget is on the line. Things are similar for those on propane as well- the worry about keeping the tanks filled has caused at least a few sleepless nights.
In addition, the type of heating and cooling system you have can influence the price of your home. Consumers are spending more and more time looking not only at the price of a home, but the cost of ownership- and that includes utility and heating/cooling bills. This means it’s becoming more and more important to consider adding energy-saving upgrades to your home whenever you have to replace an existing system. The state of New Jersey is offering rebates to households that improve the energy efficiency of their heating and cooling equipment right now. Using less energy is helpful to the enviornent, and your wallet.
If you are considering a new HVAC system for your home, you might be thinking about what’s involved with converting to a natural gas system. Here are a few factors you need to consider:
- Is there natural gas available in your area? Most newer developments have access to natural gas, and it’s one of the most popular ways to heat a home. In addition to heat, natural gas you can help you save money on energy with more efficient, natural gas appliances, like clothes dryers, stoves and tankless hot water heaters. Running gas lines to your home might save you more money on energy in the long run than trying to replace an old oil or propane system with a new one. South Jersey Gas has invested a lot into expanding their reach with gas lines. We advise checking with Comfort Now to see if it's available in your area, because in some areas, but not all, the utility will actually pay to run gas lines to your home.
- Propane heaters MAY be convertible depending on age, condition and manufacturers conversion products- but you need an experienced expert to do the work. Propane and natural gas are both gas-based fuels. HVAC professionals can often convert a propane system to natural gas, but it is a delicate process that requires experienced technicians, since it deals with flammable gas under pressure. It is possible that the manufacturer of your heater may even sell a conversion kit to make the transition to natural gas easy, but we highly recommend that you hire a trained professional to help you install this kit.
- Remember- gas fired heaters are cheaper to install and cheaper to run than oil heaters. In an article on converting from oil to gas, the HouseLogic blog states that an average gas furnace starts at prices between $1,500 and $3,000 where oil heaters start at $2,000 and can run as much as $8,000 to replace. Also note that gas is piped straight to your home by a utility, and you won’t ever have to worry about storing or filling up a tank, especially if bad weather hits. Gas is also burns cleaner, producing less soot, and also burns very quietly.
- Natural Gas can even be cheaper than Electric. An article from CNBC reports that homeowners can save up to $1,698 a year in fuel costs by switching from electric to natural gas. That;s good news if your heating bills are eating up your monthly budget every year.
- More efficient systems like gas furnaces often come with rebates and incentives. Many States and utilities offer rebates and incentives to get people to transition to more energy efficient technology like gas furnaces, because they save energy and the environment at the same time. This means switching to natural gas might actually be less expensive than you think, and sometimes, utility companies may even pay to lay the pipe required for a hook up. Call Comfort Now at 609-400-1005 to find out!
- Gas Heat can also mean saving energy with Gas Appliances. Heating is a huge expense for homeowners, but other home systems and appliances - ranging from hot water, to cooking to washers and dryers also can be huge energy users. By changing out these energy-hungry appliances, you can save yourself money every month- not just during the colder months.
- Natural Gas Heating might help sell your home! Most people under the age of 40 have never lived in an oil heated home. Because of the very operation—appearance, noise, smell and the oil tank, oil is considered “old” and can scare prospective buyers away from a property. Lots of people factor in reasonable monthly utility bills into the equation also. Having natural gas as an option for your home is a good investment to not only save you money today, but to help you sell your home when you want, while appealing to a wider selection of buyers.
Gas can be a fantastic option for your home- give Comfort Now a call today to find out what options and rebates might be available for your home and start saving money now!