The Value of Heating Oil
and Why It Doesn't Make Sense to Switch to Another Source
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Being a homeowner means always having to worry about stuff related to expenses and spending. This is quite true especially with the cost of having to ensure comfort inside your own home. While you give a lot of attention to buy appliances and electronics which are marketed as energy-savers, you should know that the biggest savings you can do is on the source of your heating. In this case, it’s safe to bet you’re using heating oil. Toms River NJ homeowners like you depend on oil to heat your home for the reason that it is what everyone is using. But as of late, you probably have heard so much about other so-called more advanced and modern sources like natural gas, propane, and even electricity. But why should you stick with heating oil? Well, this article will talk about the value of heating oil and why it really does not make a lot of sense to switch to another source for heating.
Oil being your main heating source is something you probably have inherited from your father and your grandfather. But while it remains as an abundant source, with the U.S. government focusing on stockpiling this precious resource for the past several decades, it’s no secret that you still feel the effect of rising prices. However, it also can’t be denied that the trend of unstable prices also affects other fuel sources, including natural gas.
But what if someone tells you it’s time to switch to gas? Well, the first thing you must understand is that you could be see a significant reduction of your heating expenses when you use natural gas. But what the proponents of it don’t tell you is the huge expense you’ll have to shoulder in the process of converting your system. As a matter of fact, a complete natural gas heating conversion from oil could cost more than $10,000, more particularly if you are planning to purchase a high-efficiency unit. So, even if there is a potential to save, the switch to natural gas will remain as an expensive and rather risky gamble.
Oil being your main heating source is something you probably have inherited from your father and your grandfather. But while it remains as an abundant source, with the U.S. government focusing on stockpiling this precious resource for the past several decades, it’s no secret that you still feel the effect of rising prices. However, it also can’t be denied that the trend of unstable prices also affects other fuel sources, including natural gas.
But what if someone tells you it’s time to switch to gas? Well, the first thing you must understand is that you could be see a significant reduction of your heating expenses when you use natural gas. But what the proponents of it don’t tell you is the huge expense you’ll have to shoulder in the process of converting your system. As a matter of fact, a complete natural gas heating conversion from oil could cost more than $10,000, more particularly if you are planning to purchase a high-efficiency unit. So, even if there is a potential to save, the switch to natural gas will remain as an expensive and rather risky gamble.
On the other hand, many of those homeowners who have been using oil for a very long time now and are being convinced to switch to natural gas or propane are thinking twice because heating oil as of late has increased its value, thanks to the fact that the prices have been at their lowest in almost a decade. What’s even more interesting is that energy experts think that the prices will continue to go down in the next couple of years. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said last year that heating oil prices will remain low for at least the next few years.
Today, heating oil burns a lot cleaner than it was back in the 1970s. Unlike it its earlier days, it’s no longer full of sulfur content. This comes hand in hand with the fact that modern residential heating equipment which uses oil has become more environment-friendly, thanks to almost zero emissions. This is made possible because the newer and more modern oil heat systems are built and designed to avoid and prevent creating soot, odors, or any kind of dirt, provided they are ideally maintained.
And if you think natural gas is better, think again. If you don’t know it yer, oil has the potential to create 140,000 BTUs of heat per gallon, which is a lot more potent compared to natural gas’ 100,000 BTUs.
And perhaps the most important thing of all is the fact that using oil for heating is the safest option you have. Unlike propane or natural gas, there is no health risk when you happen to inhale oil fumes. With gas, there is a high possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Finally, oil does not explode and the only way it ignite is when it is vaporized, something you wouldn’t really be doing unintentionally.
Today, heating oil burns a lot cleaner than it was back in the 1970s. Unlike it its earlier days, it’s no longer full of sulfur content. This comes hand in hand with the fact that modern residential heating equipment which uses oil has become more environment-friendly, thanks to almost zero emissions. This is made possible because the newer and more modern oil heat systems are built and designed to avoid and prevent creating soot, odors, or any kind of dirt, provided they are ideally maintained.
And if you think natural gas is better, think again. If you don’t know it yer, oil has the potential to create 140,000 BTUs of heat per gallon, which is a lot more potent compared to natural gas’ 100,000 BTUs.
And perhaps the most important thing of all is the fact that using oil for heating is the safest option you have. Unlike propane or natural gas, there is no health risk when you happen to inhale oil fumes. With gas, there is a high possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Finally, oil does not explode and the only way it ignite is when it is vaporized, something you wouldn’t really be doing unintentionally.