Gas vs. Oil Furnaces: Which Will Warm Your Lakeforest Home Better?

Comparing Gas and Oil FurnacesIf you’re in the market for a new furnace, you may end up facing the dilemma of which type of furnace to purchase. The gas vs. oil furnace decision isn’t an easy one, especially if your home isn’t already set up for either alternative.

Gas vs. Oil Furnace

Following are some pros and cons of each furnace alternative:

  • Energy efficiency. A high-efficiency natural gas furnace is your best bet when it concerns efficiency. More of the burned fuel turns into heat for your home — some 90-plus percent for high-efficiency furnaces, as compared to 80 to 90 percent for a new oil furnace. The energy efficiency advantage is important if you’re concerned about energy conservation and the cost of heating bills.
  • Cost of installation. Fuel oil furnaces are usually cheaper to purchase than the same-sized gas furnace, as much as 10 to 25 percent lower.
  • Set-up. If your home already has gas lines connected to an outside source of natural gas but isn’t set up for fuel oil – no fuel tank, no pipes to a tank – sticking with natural gas probably makes the most sense. Similarly, if your home has an oil tank and lines into the house but no connection to the gas supply lines, sticking with fuel oil may be the right decision.
  • Cost of gas vs. oil. As a result of ramped-up domestic petroleum production and a decline in worldwide demand, natural gas is relatively cheap nowadays. These trends haven’t resulted in lower prices for fuel oil. Dollar for dollar, you’ll get a lot more for your money with natural gas than fuel oil.

In many parts of the country, natural gas heating is also more affordable than electric heat pump heating. This is the case even though heat pumps are much more energy efficient than gas furnaces, just not enough to make up the cost differential between natural gas and electricity.

For more help in sorting out the gas vs. oil furnace decision, please contact us at Carefree Comfort, Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide superior services in Glencoe, Lake Bluff, Lakeforest and other area communities.

You May Also Like

Overheating AC Systems
June 24, 2025

Why Does My AC System Keep Overheating in Deerfield, IL?

Your air conditioning system in Deerfield, IL, battles summer heat to keep your home cool and comfortable. Sometimes, the system may work… Continue Reading Why Does My AC System Keep Overheating in Deerfield, IL?

Read More…

Heat Pump Won't Shut Off
May 24, 2025

Why Doesn’t My Heat Pump Shut Off in Highland Park, IL?

A heat pump provides efficient heating and cooling to keep your Highland Park, IL, home comfortable year-round. However, if your system malfunctions… Continue Reading Why Doesn’t My Heat Pump Shut Off in Highland Park, IL?

Read More…

Fixing Ductless Heating And AC System
April 3, 2025

Why Is My Ductless Heating and AC System So Loud?

One of the most appealing aspects of ductless HVAC is its ability to heat and cool your Deerfield, IL, home in near… Continue Reading Why Is My Ductless Heating and AC System So Loud?

Read More…

Compliance Settings
Increase Font Size
Grayscale
Simplified Font
Underline Links
Highlight Links
Reset
Close