Oil to Gas

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An oil to natural gas (NG) conversion can cost as little as $2000 all inclusive depending upon the size of your home.

Conversion can be done in 2 days or less.

The "problem" is whether or not a conversion from fuel oil to natural gas will be cost effective from a fuel and energy standpoint and how long it will take to recover the investment as K2 already mentioned.

Comparing home heating fuels and heating systems and their efficiency is also no easy task.

Not only does one fuel provide more energy than another, the cost of delivery and the cost of the heating system needs to be considered as well.

Localized prices differences also need to be considered.

For example, the most efficient fuels in terms of the most energy provided by equal amounts of fuel measured by BTUs (measured highest to lowest) is:

1)Anthracite coal
2)Fuel Oil
3)LP-Propane
4)NG-Natural Gas
5)Electricity

This means, generally speaking, that anthracite provides the most heat per unit while electricty provides the least amount of heat per unit.

This also means that you will get more heat from the same amount of fuel oil than the same amount of natural gas.

(Doesn't even take into account wood pellets or similar renewable heat sources.)

One would then think that it make the most sense to stay with fuel oil than natural gas, but this is not always so.

While it may take twice as much natural gas to create the same amount of heat/energy as fuel oil, fule oil prices are market driven and compeletely unregulated. This means that fuel oil can vary because of demand or because of lack of supply wildly over the course of a heating season.

Also, since natural gas is usually a state regulated utility, prices will remain more constant.

The result CAN be that natural gas can cost less than fuel oil...but not necessarily so...and that other types of fuels can cost even less than that.

In my region, northeast...Pennsylvania....fuel oil, propane and natural gas has become the most expensive means to heat with than even electric over the last 4-5 years.

Since most electric generating plants use highly efficient and cheap anthracite or bituminous coal or coal products to produce energy, or use nuclear, eletcricity is far cheaper to convert to and use over the long haul than are fuel oils, propane or natural gas.

Just what fuel and what type system remains best for YOU depends upon where you live, how many degree heating days you have each season, availability of home heating fuel products, and the cost of each.

In my region, electricity has them all beat at this time and it appears it will continue to be the cheapest most efficient form of heat for some time to come.

Long and short is that you need to do your research and homewrok before deciding on what fuel and what type system works best for you.

You may even find that you will be better off keeping your currect heating system and instead investing in added insulation systems.

Most public utilities and state and givernment energy agencies will provide you with a free 'energy audit'.

You might take advantage of these servcies before deciding.

Helpful link for BTU comparisons:


http://www.harmanstoves.com/btu_comparisons.htm