People who have oil heating equipment that’s 20 years or older may be considering switching to natural gas to heat their home because they think this could save them a lot of money on heating expenses.
What they don’t realize is that the upfront cost to convert to a natural gas system can typically be thousands of dollars. And it really doesn’t make sense to switch to a less efficient fuel like natural gas when clean-burning Bioheat® fuel—and Westmore—can keep you warm even on the coldest of nights. Here are some points to keep in mind when comparing heating oil vs. natural gas.
The heating oil industry recently committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Households that use blends of ultra-low-sulfur Bioheat® fuel are increasing the pace of these efforts, and more blends are in development every day. Shorter-term goals include reaching a 15% reduction in carbon emissions by 2023 and a 40% reduction by 2030.
Because Bioheat® fuel is so clean-burning, you’ll get higher efficiency from your home’s heating system. With today’s high-efficiency oil furnaces and oil boilers, you could reach efficiencies of 90% or higher. Heating oil gets your home warmer faster than natural gas or any other fuel.
A heating-oil-fired furnace or boiler can last about 25 years, while the life expectancy of a natural gas furnace or boiler can be as little as 10 years.
Bioheat® fuel is better for heating systems because it burns cleaner and leaves fewer deposits on heat exchangers. That means fewer breakdowns and a longer life for your furnace or boiler.
When the utility companies try to persuade people to convert from oil to natural gas, there’s never much talk about safety. That’s because, hands down, heating oil is the much safer fuel option.
With heating oil, you can safely store on your property with no dependence on underground pipelines. Heating oil cannot explode—even if you drop a lit match into it. Heating oil is also much safer in the case of a carbon monoxide leak because you will get a warning sign about a malfunction—unlike with natural gas.
With heating oil, you’re not dependent on gas pipelines to keep your home warm. When you have natural gas, you’re dealing with a utility company. Usually, that means a far-away office where you’re just an account number in their massive database. Westmore Fuel is locally owned and locally based. We’re proud to offer safe, reliable heating oil deliveries backed by our friendly, personalized service.
Read more about the benefits of upgrading to a new heating oil boiler or furnace and then contact us.
