For years, oil heating was the way to go in many parts of Pennsylvania. It could warm a home faster than other energy sources. It was also cheaper than other sources.

Homes in rural areas of Pennsylvania especially relied on oil. Before gas lines were widely available, oil was often the best (or only) choice. Since it was delivered and stored at a person’s home, oil users didn’t need to worry about utility companies.

But, most of these factors have changed. Today, more and more people are looking for HVAC companies that can convert their homes from oil to gas heat.

Our homeowner in Mechanicsville PA was considering a change. It looked as if her neighbors were paying less for gas heat than she was for oil. But, she wondered, was it really worth it to switch?

After researching contractors in the greater Harrisburg PA area, she chose UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. We have a great reputation for handling every aspect of an oil-to-gas conversion — and for doing it right the first time.

UGI HVAC Comfort Consultant Joe Leinbach met with our homeowner and inspected her home. Then, Joeoutlined what it would take to convert her heating system. He also reviewed how her energy bills would change.

Problem: A homeowner in Mechanicsburg PA wanted to switch from oil to gas heat. She didn’t like oil heat and wanted to save money.

Solution: Installed a 92 percent efficiency Heil gas furnace and ran a gas line to her home from the main.

The benefits of gas heat

Today, natural gas lines are much more common. That’s made gas heating an option for more people in the country, and, especially, in Pennsylvania. The abundance of natural gas deposits right here in Pennsylvania has increased the availability of natural gas and kept costs down. As a result, the number of people using gas heat has risen over the last few years.

Gas heaters also require much less maintenance than oil furnaces. If properly cared for, they only need a tuneup every so often. An oil heater, on the other hand, gets backed up easily with soot and dirt, and requires a very involved, very dirty, and very costly yearly cleaning.

For all those factors, however, the biggest reason people consider switching from oil to gas is cost.

Once our homeowner was sure she wanted to switch from oil to gas, UGI HVAC's Joe Leinbach went through the entire process with her.

First of all, he made sure gas lines were available in her neighborhood. Fortunately, most places in Mechanicsburg, PA are set up for gas. Her home was no exception.

Then, Joe and the UGI HVAC team secured all the necessary permits to work on the home. This seems like an obvious move. But not all HVAC companies take this step. They may save a few dollars by skipping this step, but it can be a headache for a homeowner later. They run the risk of getting fined for not having them later on. Plus having the permits helps to ensure that all proper safety measures are taken.

Next, joe outlined all the work we’d have to do. The process starts with removing the old oil tank. Even though the tank is on the homeowner’s property, the law states that it must be removed and properly disposed of once it’s no longer in use.

Then, we installed the new furnace and ran a gas line to it from the outdoor meter. The furnace itself was more efficient than the old gas heater. This efficiency saved our homeowner even more money.

The old furnace had an 86 percent annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, rating. So, 14 percent of the fuel it burned got lost in exhaust instead of providing heat. By contrast, the new furnace has a 92 percent AFUE. Just eight percent of the energy gets lost.

Once we completed the work, our homeowner was all set with a new system. Now, her home gets heated for less money, and she doesn't have to worry about the frequent expense of an oil furnace cleaning.

Are you considering switching from oil to gas? Contact us to find out if an HVAC conversion is right for your home.