Are you about to spend another winter regretting that you still haven’t switched from oil heat to more efficient, clean burning natural gas? If you live in the Summit NJ area and you’re thinking of converting to natural gas, fall is a great time to make the change. Stashluk Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning are experts at the gas line installation inside your home once your utility delivers the natural gas line to your home.
Stashluk can also help direct you toward any rebates and other financial incentives that may be available. The State of New Jersey offers Clean Energy rebates which can help offset the costs of installing a high efficiency natural gas furnace and appliances. Energy Star rebates may also be available.
No More Running Out of Heating Fuel or Foul Oil Odors
CO2 emissions from gas are around 20% lower than oil (per unit of energy produced), as reported by the World Energy Outlook 2017. Natural gas also offers other benefits that home heating oil simply cannot match. Homeowners like the convenience of gas because there are no hassles with scheduling deliveries, clogged filters, or worries about running out of fuel during the coldest nights of the winter. Natural gas can also cost less. As houselogic.com points out, since most natural gas is mined in North America, its pricing can be less volatile than oil, which is a global commodity and subject to vast price fluctuations.
If you have oil heat and you’re weighing the pros and cons of converting to gas heat, you should also take into account the energy draw of your other household appliances that run on electricity. Your clothes dryer, kitchen stove and water heater are just three examples of appliances that could operate more efficiently should your home convert to natural gas. Of course, you may not want to switch over everything at one time. Even so, if you make the conversion to natural gas it’s a good idea to run the gas lines and put the hookups in place for your other appliances so you’re ready to roll when they need replacement or you’re ready to upgrade to gas.
Stashluk can help you speed the conversion to natural gas heat
There is a process that needs to be followed to deliver natural gas to your home. Fortunately, by living in the towns surrounding Summit, such as Millburn, Chatham, Madison, New Providence and others in Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset counties, chances are the key component is already in place: that is, gas lines under the street.
To get the conversion underway, Stashluk works with PSE&G by submitting a gas load survey. Your utility will have to open up the road in front of your house and put a connection from the street to the home. In most cases, homeowners will only have to pay for the permit for the road opening, not the installation of the gas line to the home.
Once your utility gets the gas line to the house, they need at least one appliance ready to be hooked up to the line. Stashluk gas line installation experts recommends setting up a new furnace next to your old one in preparation.
After the gas load survey is completed, it may take some time to get your gas line installed by your utility depending on their availability and workload. That’s why it’s important to start the process as soon as possible so you’ll have it in place before freezing winter temperatures arrive.
Are you thinking about installing a standby generator?
With the intensity of storms seemingly escalating before our very eyes, you may be considering installing an automatic standby generator for your home to keep the power on when your friendly neighborhood transformer blows. Make sure to let your Stashluk technician know of your plans so the generator can be included in your home’s gas load survey. A larger gas line and meter may be required which would likely be of no additional cost to you if you have it installed from the get-go.
What about your old oil tank?
At some point before the day arrives that you want to sell your home, you’re going to want to get the underground oil tank (if you have one) either removed or remediated, especially if there is a leak. A leaky underground tank can stop any promising real estate deal dead in its tracks.
If some type of heating oil discharge has occurred at your home, regardless of the quantity, you must report it to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection by calling its environmental action line at 1.877.WARN DEP (1.877.927.6337) as soon as a discharge is detected. The site needs to be inspected to assess the severity of the leak and that any soil around or below it is not contaminated by oil. If there is a leak the state will become involved and the sale may not close until a “no further action” letter is received from the New Jersey DEP.
Make this the year you convert to natural gas!
Stashluk can help you make the change. We’ve been helping homeowners make the switch from oil to natural gas for decades, and we’re highly experienced with local and utility specifications and permit processes so your conversion can proceed smooth as silk. To discuss switching to natural gas, give Stashluk a call at 908.277.6200. You’ll be glad you did.
