The Great Furnace Debate

**blitzen** · 08-15-2008, 11:15 AM

After last winter, we knew we'd have to replace our ancient oil furnace. It is the original furnace and our house is nearly 60 years old! We have looked into converting to gas and in the process, discovered that Ohio requires whomever puts the gas line in from the street to the house be certified. Which means they pay big bucks to become certified and pass that expense on to us.

So, what would have cost us $1200 a few years ago is costing (based on the estimates we've gotten) between $2300 and $3k just for the gas line. Plus there's the tapping fee, and the cost of replacing the sidewalk section they'll have to tear up to connect to the gas service at the street.

*sigh*

The gas furnaces we've been quoted on range from $2800-3200. We looked into an electric heat pump, but that will cost about $6k. So we thought, "Hey, let's see how much a new oil furnace would be". One quote we got was $3400! Dang!

We're not sure what to do. We don't mind oil heat, but having gas would make our house more marketable when we do sell (1-2 years from now) We're more confused than ever on what we should do. It doesn't help that the two companies we had come out and quote the gas line didn't give off the most competent vibe.

What would YOU do, knowing you plan to sell? If you had the money to put in any of the above, which would you do (we've been saving up for this). Any wisdom or insight on this that we might not be considering?

**Russ** · 08-15-2008, 11:57 AM

I think you should try to look at some fuel costs and "try" to figure out the next few years based on your history. An oil fired furnace is more efficient than propane but the cost is higher (right now).
Secondly, as you said, the stinky stigma of the oil burner is there in the selling of the house and may chase away a buyer. Although with todays high efficiency burners that stinky smell isn't nearly as bad.

**Russ** · 08-15-2008, 11:58 AM

get more quotes too.

**blitzen** · 08-15-2008, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by rcannon

get more quotes too.

We've gotten quotes on furnaces from 3 different companies. The problem with the gas line quotes is that there aren't many companies who are certified to do it. One company we called wouldn't even come out and give a quote, said they couldn't quote it until they do it (uh, ok!, what BS!) but they 'ball parked' it at $3k.

**Russ** · 08-15-2008, 12:51 PM

Try calling the gas company and ask for referrals or recommendations for certified installers.

**Northwoods4** · 08-15-2008, 12:54 PM

Hello Blitzen,
Last year, I was in the same situation that you are facing. My 55 year old oil furnace bit the dust! I did go ahead and replace it with a new oil furnace for exactly $3000. Don't forget about all the efficiency you will gain. My oil bill last year was HALF of what it was the year before. Also, it does not have the funky smell the old furnace used to put out.

To tap into the gas line and get a new gas furnace would have been $7-8K for me (not an option) so I went ahead with the oil furnace, and I am pleased with it.

Hope you are able to find a solution that works for you!

**Russ** · 08-15-2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by Northwoods4

Hello Blitzen,
Last year, I was in the same situation that you are facing. My 55 year old oil furnace bit the dust! I did go ahead and replace it with a new oil furnace for exactly $3000. Don't forget about all the efficiency you will gain. My oil bill last year was HALF of what it was the year before. Also, it does not have the funky smell the old furnace used to put out.

To tap into the gas line and get a new gas furnace would have been $7-8K for me (not an option) so I went ahead with the oil furnace, and I am pleased with it.

Hope you are able to find a solution that works for you!

There you go Blitzen. I can not top real world experience.

**blitzen** · 08-15-2008, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by rcannon

There you go Blitzen. I can not top real world experience.

I agree! Our furnace now is about 50% efficient, so I imagine we will do better with our oil usage this year. We're also planning on getting new windows next spring so that will help as well.

Thanks for the input!

Oh, and the gas company does keep a list of certified installers, but the installers pay to be on that list...so I'm not sure I really trust them, you know? They aren't necessarily giving me the names of the best ones, just whomever wrote the biggest check, it seems!

**The Muse** · 08-15-2008, 02:02 PM

I'd convert to gas. If I were looking to buy a house, I wouldn't even consider one with oil heat unless it had something unique and special that trumped the heating system. Two coworkers recently bought homes and both specifically wanted gas or electric heat.

I'm sure you'll find a buyer either way when it comes time to sell, but oil will turn some people off, even with a new furnace.

**nvmommyx6** · 08-15-2008, 02:05 PM

Have you considered, with the cost of heating going up in the next few months from gas' to 33% and electric to 13%...installing a wood stove!
We installed one last january and it costs us an average of $200 a year to heat....compared to the old propane average of $1200 a month!
Good luck
Mommy

**monkeywrangler71** · 08-15-2008, 02:18 PM

Is having a gas furnace a big deal breaker where you live? We recently moved from a place where everyone has oil furnaces so it was not an issue when we sold, but we moved to an area where everyone has gas so it would probably be an issue here.

Natural gas prices shot up a few years ago and as far as I can tell the huge benefit of natural gas has disappeared. Personally I hate the gas, it scares the heck out of me. And our oil furnace never smelled, so I don't know what that's about. Our gas furnace here is brand new and our oil furnace at home was 30 years old, but our heating bill didn't go down when we moved. So, if I were you I'd get some reliable estimates on the actual cost of heating your house with gas to make sure you don't end up spending twice as much to put in a furnace that ends up actually costing you more to operate.

**monkeywrangler71** · 08-15-2008, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by The Muse

Two coworkers recently bought homes and both specifically wanted gas or electric heat.

I'm sure you'll find a buyer either way when it comes time to sell, but oil will turn some people off, even with a new furnace.

Here's a good example of the saleability of an oil furnace being dependent on where you live. Where I come from nobody will buy a house with electric heat. When we were looking we would turn around and walk out if we got to a house and discovered it had electric heat. I don't know anyone who would buy one, but I know in warmer regions they are quite popular.

**blitzen** · 08-15-2008, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Is having a gas furnace a big deal breaker where you live? We recently moved from a place where everyone has oil furnaces so it was not an issue when we sold, but we moved to an area where everyone has gas so it would probably be an issue here.

I'm not sure--Our first house was oil, with an ancient furnace and we bought it anyways and converted eventually. This was before the change in policy with the gas company, and it wasn't nearly as expensive as it is going to be now. So, we've owned three different homes, two had ancient oil furnaces and one had an ancient gas furnace...so it didn't scare us away! But who knows about other people. Oil is becoming less common around here, but we still see oil trucks out and about quite often.

Electric heat pump is definitely out, the electric company used to offer a special residential heating rate if you had electric heat--not any more, and it's just too expensive. So it really comes down to gas and oil for us. Ugh. I hate this!

**quiltingmommy** · 08-15-2008, 04:16 PM

do you have a fireplace? If so, think about getting a woodstove insert and using the oil furnace as a backup. Our oil furnace is about 30+ years old and HUGE. We paid about 2000 last year to heat our house and are looking into getting an insert for this year and just keeping the old thing as backup.