Anyone who heats with oil can attest to the steadily increasing cost of buying that oil! Recent news makes it seem apparent that this trend is likely to continue. What is driving this trend? Several things come into play.

First is the ongoing unrest in the Middle East, which drives up the cost of the crude that is refined into heating oil. Second are the recent closing of several important heating oil refining facilities in the northeast and the anticipated closing of several more. Third are recent discoveries of what are reported to be large deposits of natural gas in the United States, which is the chief competing heating fuel. And fourth are environmental regulations that make relatively clean burning natural gas more attractive.

Finally, is the maintenance issue. Gas burns much cleaner than oil, and therefore tends to require less maintenance than oil-fired systems. When repairs to gas equipment are required, the cost tends to be lower and the inconvenience is minimized.

Therefore, it may be worth considering the switch to gas, even if your current oil equipment is still operating properly, but especially if repairs are needed or are likely to be needed in the near future! The payback could come quicker than you may think.