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How to find out which fuel is best for your home

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether gas or oil heating is the best option for you. In addition to this, 

you should also consider supply and usage factors, the equipment required for each type of heating, and the overall operation

 and efficiency of those fuels and systems.

1. Supply and use

In North America, natural gas is more commonly used for home heating than oil. However, some areas of the country lack

 natural gas infrastructure and oil heating is more popular. On the supply side, natural gas is more convenient, with a pipeline 

connecting the fuel supply from your area's natural gas utility company directly to your home.  This means you pay for what 

you use at current rates and have no reason to worry about running out of your fuel supply, unlike oil that has to be purchased 

up front and delivered to a tank by truck at your home.

2. Equipment and services

With oil heating systems, boilers are almost always larger than natural gas boilers, for a home of the same size - especially 

when compared to modern wall-mounted gas condensing boilers.

An oil boiler replacement should also include a new chimney liner to protect the structure from damage by exhaust gases and 

moisture, whereas with a gas boiler the chimney can be bypassed and discharge directly from the boiler to the outside. Speaking 

of ventilation, oil boilers also require more space around the boiler itself to draw fresh air into the system. In gas heating systems, 

fresh air usually enters the boiler directly from the outside. If stored in an unfinished basement, these differences may not be 

noticeable, but if stored in a living space, you may notice some cold air moving around the space near the oil boiler; this is due 

to the vents pulling in indoor air. Oil-fired boilers are usually made of cast iron and also require a heavy metal fuel tank as 

mentioned above. These tanks can be installed in a basement or buried near your home, but they need to be monitored as 

tanks can corrode and leak over time.

While both oil and gas boilers should have annual maintenance, the associated price tags can vary. Due to the way the fuel is 

burned, oil boilers will always form soot, which must be cleaned and removed regularly to avoid loss of efficiency. Oil-fired 

boilers are also equipped with oil filters, which must be replaced or cleaned regularly. Gas boilers, on the other hand, still 

require servicing, but due 

to the size of the boiler and the way the fuel is burned, much less cleaning is required.

3. Operations and efficiency

Natural gas and oil are two very different fuels, even in the way they are measured. Natural gas is measured in Therms (or 

cubic meters),while oil is measured in Gallons (or Liters). On a unit basis, oil is a more energy-dense fuel source than natural 

gas, providing approximately 40% more energy per unit. However, when installed correctly, gas-fired condensing boilers have 

higher AFUE efficiencies than oil-fired boilers, around 95% and 87% respectively. Gas condensing boilers provide better heat 

output per unit of fuel.

Oil-fired boilers heat water to a certain high temperature, while gas-fired boilers have more flexible heating settings. If installed 

and programmed correctly, a condensing boiler can heat water to a significantly lower temperature, thereby requiring less fuel 

to heat your home. Most importantly, condensing gas boilers are designed to condense the remaining heat in the exhaust gas 

and return it to the boiler, making the system more efficient.

All in all, oil and natural gas heating are two very different ways to create the warm, comfortable home you're after. Their 

differences may tempt you to make one choice or another, but it's always in your best interest to find a trustworthy heating 

contractor to guide you in making a decision that's right for you.