Oil to Gas Chimney Liner Conversions

Oil to Gas Conversions are common, especially in the Northeast and is a cost-effective strategy for many Boston and larger Massachusetts area citizens. For homes that use oil burning appliances, we make the conversion to a naural gas heating appliance and install a liner that will maximize heating efficiency while reducing the cost in your monthly heating bill. These new systems will also prolong the life of your chimney and greatly reduce the chances of a chimney fire.

When furnace or boiler installations are converted from one fuel to another, relining becomes an important consideration and a decision that needs to be followed through on.  If you have or are in the process of converting your heating system from oil to gas, your chimney could present unknown hazards unless you have had the chimney properly inspected and maintained.

Even still, a switch from oil to gas needs proper maintenance from our experts.  After oil to gas conversions the sulfur deposits left from years of oil burning mix with water vapor produced by the new gas appliance. This forms an acid which attacks the bricks and mortar in the chimney. The brick and mortar deterioration can lead to blockages in the venting system that may allow carbon monoxide into the home.

The benefits of natural gas are bountiful and will be a huge upgrade to your home.

Benefits of Natural Gas

• Natural gas can burn more completely than fuel, which means that your furnace can be more efficient.
• If you're buying new equipment, the most efficient gas-burning furnaces are quite a bit more efficient than the most efficient oil-burning furnaces.
• With oil and propane you often (though not always) pre-pay. With natural gas you typically pay a month after you've used the gas.
• Natural gas companies often offer rebates to switch to gas -- occasionally including a new gas furnace or boiler.
• Most (84%) of the natural gas consumed in the United States is produced in the US. (source) Some commentators have suggested that this makes the cost of natural gas less volatile.
• You may be able to heat your home more cheaply with natural gas. However, there are quite a few variables to be considered, so don't assume that this is true.

Once you have made the decision to transition from oil to gas, you must then choose the liner you want for your chimney. We provide our customers with these two choices:

• Thick-gauge (10-gauge or heavier) stainless steel is the most common type and can be used in flues of all heights and diameters. Because stainless steel liners can weigh several thousand pounds, they need to be braced at intervals, and the existing building structure may require reinforcement.
• Light-gauge (24-gauge or lighter) stainless steel factory-designed chimney liners are typically fastened together with predesigned collars, straps, ties and supports. They require engineered supports at frequent intervals-, which can make them impractical for relining chimneys with difficult-to-access interiors.

Our experts can further help make your decision as it is based on preference and style of chimney. Another important measure when converting is applying ceramic flue sealant, which is sprayed on the inside of the chimney masonry. The spray, a ceramic compound with a consistency equivalent to unformed concrete, hardens to form an impenetrable surface that improves the chimney's resistance to extreme heat and may greatly reduce the need for structural reinforcement.

Chimney Sweeping Estimate

If you are in the market for a new chimney liner after converting from oil to gas, call Guaranteed Chimney of New England and have the job done quickly and correctly!