With the high price of fuel oil, more and more homeowners are switching their furnaces from oil to gas. At today’s rates, it typically costs about a dollar less to produce one therm (the commercial heating unit, equal to 100,000 Btus) with gas than with heating oil. That doesn’t sound like much, but it really adds up over the course of the winter and fall! Converting from oil to gas can help you save hundreds in just one year, let alone over the long term.
Furnace BTU output required
| Installed Cost | 50k BTU | 75k BTU | 100k BTU | 125k BTU | 140k BTU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forced Air Furnaces | |||||
| High Efficiency | $2,400 | $2,900 | $3,200 | $3,600 | $4,000 |
| Mid Efficiency | $2,100 | $2,500 | $2,800 | $3,200 | $3,500 |
| Boilers | |||||
| Mid Efficiency | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| High Efficiency | – | – | $4,200 | – | – |
| Combination Space/Water Heating | $2,600 | $2,800 | $3,000 | $3,000 | – |
Possible Additional Cost
| Item | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Power Vent Kit | $700 |
| Metal Chimney | $450 |
If home is electric baseboard heated
| Item | 1 story house | 2 story house |
|---|---|---|
| Ductwork Costs | $3,000 – 5,000 | $4,000 – 7,000 |
| Plans and Permits | $500 | $500 |
Assumptions and notes
• There is a natural gas main on the street and is 30m (90 ft.) or less from the house.
• The installation requires less than 10m (30 ft.) of gas pipe inside the house.
• This price data is based on average estimates obtained from national survey. The information is intended to be a guideline for the cost effectiveness of heating system conversion. Individual contractors may charge more or less, depending on the degree of difficulty of the installation, the time of year, how busy the contractor is and the brand of furnace chosen.
• As with any major purchase, a homeowner would obtain several quotes on the work.
• Only required elements are included in the payback calculation. Extras, such as air cleaners, are not considered essential to heating system operation
BTU requirement guide
This varies with a number of factors, including home size, location, age of house, insulation level, number of occupants and typical temperature setting. The following can be used as a guide.
| House Size | BTU/HR |
|---|---|
| < 1,200 sq. ft. | 50,000 |
| 1,200 – 1,600 sq. ft. | 75,000 |
| 1,600 – 2,000 sq. ft. | 100,000 |
| 2,000 – 3,000 sq. ft. | 125,000 |
| 3,000 – 4,000 sq. ft. | 140,000 |
Add-on extras
| Item | Installed Cost |
|---|---|
| Central Air Conditioning | $2,500 |
| Electronic Air Cleaner | $600 |
| Electronic Thermostats | $150 |
| Above-ground oil tank removal | $350 |