For the last decade, oil has been more expensive than gas. Thanks to this, around 50% of Americans use natural gas to heat their homes, while only 8% use oil.  But if you don’t already have gas in your home, it can be an investment and a pain in the butt to switch. In summary: gas is cheaper and more reliable but there’s a big upfront cost to switch from oil to gas. So should you make the leap?

The Big Questions

Is It Worth It?

When thinking about switching from oil to gas, your first thought is probably the cost. So what is the cost of switching for homeowners in Massachusetts?

It depends on where you live and some specific details about your situation, but could be anywhere between $3,500 and $10,000.

• If you need to get a gas line installed, that cost could be anywhere from $0 (if your gas company pays for it) to $1000.
• If you have an older system (10+ years) then you’ll need a new system which can run you between $5,000-$10,000.

But keep in mind that there are lots of incentives! We wrote an article all about MassSave incentives that lays it all out for you 

If these costs are a little overwhelming to you, keep in mind that you’re almost guaranteed to save money on lower heating and maintenance costs. So all the money you put into switching upfront will be recouped over time with these savings.

Can You Even Get Gas to Heat Your Home?

You may want gas, but can you get gas? Gas is piped into your home by a utility company. If there isn’t already a gas line in your neighborhood, you might be out of luck. But if you already have a gas stove or if your neighbor uses gas heat, then you’re probably all set. You just need to call the gas company to check and they’ll run an underground pipe from the mainline to your home.

Why You Want It

Convenience

Other than money, the biggest difference when you switch from oil to gas is convenience.

While oil has to be ordered and delivered (and is subject to weather delays) gas is simply piped directly into your home whenever you need it!

Moreover, oil can be messy and even dangerous. You have to store the oil on your property – in your basement or your backyard. If there are oil spills or leaks it can be a huge mess to clean up. And of course, having puddles of oil around isn’t exactly very safe.

Eco-Friendly

If you consider yourself eco-conscious, then you might want to switch to gas. While it’s by no means the most “green” way to go, it is definitely better for the planet than oil. When gas is retrieved from the earth it produces less sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter. Jargon aside, gas has less of an impact on the planet than oil.

While gas is still a fossil fuel, it’s the cleanest-burning fossil fuel so it doesn’t produce ash or odor. And with no oil tank, there’s no chance of an oil spill and soil contamination!

So Should You Make the Switch from Oil to Gas Heat?

There’s a big upfront cost to switch from oil to gas, so is this even worth it? Well, if you look at how much you’ll save with gas over oil, you will make back your investment within a decade or less. And MassSave incentives will really help with that.

If you have any questions about switching or want to get started then give us a call!