Choosing between a gas and an oil furnace can be a tough choice, especially when it comes to the cost and efficiency of both systems. By looking at the pros and cons of each option, you can make the best choice for your Minnesota home.
Gas Furnace Pros and Cons
Natural gas furnaces offer quiet, clean-burning operation with excellent heating efficiency. These units also require less 
maintenance than their oil-burning counterparts. Natural gas prices also tend to be more economical than the typical fuel oil used by oil furnaces.
Despite these advantages, gas furnaces offer less heat per BTU than a typical oil furnace. The units are also more expensive to purchase than oil furnaces. Last but not least, gas furnaces are only feasible in areas where natural gas lines exist or can be installed.
Oil Furnace Pros and Cons
An oil furnace is capable of producing more heat per BTU at a lower cost than most other heating sources. Oil-fired heating systems are also an ideal choice in areas where gas service is unavailable or not economical enough to pursue.
However, oil furnaces not only require more maintenance than their gas-fired counterparts, but the fuel it requires is also more expensive. In addition, you’ll need to create an on-site provision for fuel storage and arrange for regular oil delivery.
How Much You’ll Spend
The biggest difference between gas and oil furnaces is the annual cost of heating. With a natural gas furnace, the average homeowner can expect to spend an average of $690 per year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Meanwhile, oil furnace owners can expect to spend an average of $2,558 per year to comfortably heat their home.
If you’re still torn between these furnaces, contact the knowledgeable pros at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been proudly serving the Twin Cities metro area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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