With winter in full swing and holidays over, homeowners and new buyers may be thinking if it makes sense to convert to another form of heat. There are options, but if you are considering this, you will want to read this blog first.
Oil heat is still the most popular choice for home heating in our maritime climate. It is extremely dependable and safe, and modern oil heating equipment is highly efficient. Oil furnace systems can last for up to 30 years or more, making capital investments very economical. Added benefits for oil are its flexibility in delivering heat through forced hot air, hot water baseboards or radiators, infloor heating, as well as its use for heating hot water. The oil heat supply market is very competitive, ensuring the consumer has multiple options to purchase product and services from.
Heat pumps work by using electricity to warm outside air and delivering it throughout your home. This is accomplished through existing hot air ducting or by mini split wall units in one or more rooms. The capital cost of the heat pump and related equipment can itself be a major factor in your decision to move to heat pumps, and depending on the size of your home, can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Installation can also be complex and costly, especially if electrical upgrades are required, ductwork needs to be installed or upgraded, or if multiple mini splits are necessary to deliver heat to all areas of your homes. Ongoing maintenance can be more expensive than other forms of heat, including specialized cleaning of units and filters and inspecting and replacing key components. Finally, heat pumps can be inefficient and may require a back up heat source when temperatures drop below zero.
Natural gas boilers and furnaces, depending on their size and efficiency, can be expensive to purchase and are only available options to homes that are located on streets where gas pipelines are installed. If you do have street access, you may have to bear the costs of installing piping to your house, and even adding a new liner to your chimney. Finally, natural gas may only make sense if you replace existing appliances with stoves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and other units that are natural gas certified.
Electricity is one of the most expensive ways to heat your home. While safe and clean, because of its cost, electricity is only efficient if your home is very well insulated. Equipment costs can be significant, installations are also lengthy and expensive, and there is the need for electrical service upgrades in many cases.
In summary, converting to an alternate heat source is a complicated and costly decision and each option should be carefully weighed for budget and benefit.
Scotia Fuels is a local full-service heating oil provider with more than five decades of serving a loyal customer base in HRM. If you have any questions about heating safety and comfort, or to get information on the latest in high efficiency furnaces, you can drop us a line at https://scotiafuels.com/contact-us/ or better still, to call us at 902-453-2121. We would love to talk to you.