• January, 29 2024

Furnace: oil or gas?

Do you want your furnace to burn oil or gas?

Your decision depends on personal preference and circumstances.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Let us give you a rundown of pros and cons:

Oil furnaces

Oil furnaces produce more heat (BTUs), meaning that smaller units can heat bigger areas.

You buy the oil from a supplier, so you are not reliant on a utility.

They are safe; oil is not highly flammable.

On the downside, oil costs more than gas, and its price fluctuates more. (Smart shoppers always stock up on oil during the summer, when heating oil prices tend to drop.)

Oil furnaces cost more to install and they require room-consuming storage tanks. They also need more cleaning and maintenance than gas furnaces.

Gas furnaces

They cost less and they use natural gas, which is less expensive than oil.  

They also require less maintenance and offer some peace of mind because a utility is responsible for maintaining the outside lines.

However, gas furnaces are not earth-friendly. They consume a lot of energy and they can spew particles into the air if the filter is dirty.

In addition, gas is highly combustible, meaning there is a possibility of a fire or explosion. At the same time, gas furnaces are well engineered with safety a top priority.
The techs at Elite HVAC maintain and install gas and oil furnaces in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island.