Understanding the Costs of Switching from Oil to Gas Heating in New York

If you're in New York and thinking about changing your heating system from oil to natural gas, you might wonder about the cost. It's not a one-size-fits-all answer, but for most houses, the price ranges from $22,500 to $30,000+ depending on factors we’ll cover below.

The size of your home is just one component of the overall cost. Several other factors can affect how much you'll end up paying for an oil-to-gas conversion. In this blog, we'll explore key factors that could apply when doing a gas conversion, including:

• Adding a gas line
• Chimney venting
• Additional expenses (permitting & inspection fees, removing the old tank, updating appliances, etc.)
• Considerations for NYC residents
• Choosing the right contractor

Switching to natural gas isn't always the best or most cost-effective option for everyone in NYC. Our heating experts can help you determine the most efficient and affordable way to heat your home.

Want to know more about converting from oil to gas heat? Call today!

Give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer any questions about switching from oil to gas.

And if you’d like a quote, we can help you schedule an appointment with one of our trusted techs to visit your home and give you a project estimate.

If you have a gas line connected to your home, perhaps for your stove or water heater, that will need to be upgraded in order to provide a sufficient supply of gas for heating.

If your home doesn’t already have a gas line, you’ll need a utility company to add one to your house. You see, most towns/areas have what’s called “gas mains” buried underground. These gas mains store large amounts of natural gas. But in order to get that gas into your home (to fuel your gas appliances), you need a smaller pipe that runs from the gas mains to your home.

Not sure if you already have a gas line at your home? Well, you can check by searching for your home’s gas meter. Gas meters measure the amount of gas your home uses and, therefore, are only installed on homes that actually have gas lines.

Don’t see a gas meter? Then you might not have a gas line installed at your home and will need to contact a utility company in your area to install one. The good news? Some utility companies will waive the fee to add a gas line if you agree to use them as your gas provider.

When you make the switch from oil to gas, you may also need your chimney lined to prevent carbon monoxide and other flue gases from leaking into your home. You see, most homes’ oil heating appliances actually use the chimney to vent their exhaust fuels, which can produce sulfur deposits inside your chimney.

The problem is that, once you switch to gas, the chemicals produced by gas appliances mix with those sulfur deposits. Together, the sulfur and combustion gases eventually deteriorate the inner lining of your chimney, which produces tiny cracks in the chimney. If left unchecked, dangerous gases can enter the home through those cracks in the chimney.

Any time you make changes to or install natural gas lines, you need a permit and an inspection to check the work. At Ranshaw Plumbing & Heating, we take care of filing all necessary permits and are on hand during all inspections from the NYC Department of Building and Gas Utility Company.

If your oil tank is out in the open and easily accessible, it won't add much to the cost of your oil-to-gas conversion. For example, your oil tank is above ground and outside your home, or your tank is in your basement with wide door frames and staircases to exit the basement.

However, in many New York City homes, these tanks are hidden in a crawlspace or underground (occasionally), making them difficult to access and sometimes requiring additional steps to remove.

In a residential application, you will most likely need to update your current appliances to a gas-fired appliance. Some units can be retrofitted with a power gas burner, if the manufacturer and NYC DOB approves. In most cases, the equipment will need to be changed and pricing will vary based on system type and equipment selection and size.

New York City is unique in many ways, extending to the city's policies on burning fossil fuels. Below are several things that might impact your decisions about what type of furnace to install.

If you can't get a gas line installed at your location, that's it. It's best to switch to an electric furnace instead.

Several incentive programs are available for those switching to energy-efficient heating systems, but if you want natural gas, it's best to act quickly. New York State recently passed a law that bans the use of natural gas in new construction. While that won't impact your existing home, it may be a consideration for future home remodeling/renovation projects.

New York City is working toward carbon-neutral operations to help improve local air quality. The city has already begun the phasing out of No. 4 fuel oil, and the statewide ban applies to both oil and gas. In general, natural gas burns cleaner than oil, and a high-efficiency unit can turn as much as 90% of the fuel into heat, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.

The contractor you choose often plays the most important role in determining your original cost for an oil-to-gas conversion. However, remember that choosing the cheapest option might also mean higher costs down the road. Make sure you work with a company with the experience to get the job done right.

Considering an oil-to-gas conversion? Contact Ranshaw Plumbing & Heating!

With 60+ years of experience working on oil-to-gas conversions and other heating updates, we're always ready to get started. Our customers routinely leave us 5-star reviews (4.8/5 stars on Google) due to our honest, upfront pricing and meticulous work.