SALES & SERVICE

Office Hours

Monday to Friday
7:30am - 4:00pm

Call Our Office
613-592-5770

Search

Gas Furnace Conversion

Comprehensive Energy Conversion Services Ottawa

Why Convert Your HVAC Fuel Source?

Converting your home heating fuel source may seem like a daunting task. This does not need to be the case, we have helped thousands of Ottawa homeowners through the transition.  There are numerous reasons as to why a homeowner may be interested in converting their energy source in Ottawa.
 
Becoming more environmentally friendly is a large driver for many people when considering how they will heat their home. Below we detail the different energy sources available to the Ottawa area and the reasons people tend to use each.
 
Saving money on utility bills is another reason many people will convert the fuel source in their home.  Fuels like propane or oil can be very expensive as opposed to current costs on heat sources such as natural gas or heat pumps. 
 
Convenience is a major factor for many people to convert their energy source.  The fact that propane tanks or oil tanks can run dry as opposed to the reliability of constant electricity or natural gas motivates many individuals to make the switch. Wood burning appliances and pellet stoves require physical labour to make them work, which many people are looking to avoid.
New HVAC system installed in a timely manner for Barrhaven, Ottawa family from AirZone HVAC Services

Natural Gas

Within city limits, natural gas tends to be the most popular source of home heating in the Ottawa area. 
 
People love the convenience of this fuel as it is constant and low maintenance. Furthermore, it is historically the cheapest way to heat your home in Canada. 
 
Natural gas can feed furnaces, boilers and appliances like garage heaters.  If you are heating with oil or propane, it is worth considering a switch to natural gas.
 
Note that natural gas is not available to every homeowner in Ottawa.

Hybrid Heating

The term “hybrid heating” is used when coining a heating system that uses more than one energy source. 

The most common hybrid heating system in Ottawa is a natural gas furnace paired with an electric heat pump.

Many people are converting their homes to these hybrid solutions.

 In a hybrid system, you can take advantage of the positive aspects of multiple fuel sources.

Pairing a heat pump with a fuel burning appliance is almost universally the best option.

Whether you are utilizing oil, propane or natural gas you can add a heat pump to the system.  

Wood

There are still many homes in rural areas surrounding Ottawa that utilize wood as the primary source of heat in the home. 

Wood heating tends to be tedious and very inefficient.  The need to manually feed a wood stove makes this option less and less popular.  Some homeowners enjoy the ambiance of a wood burning appliance and also the fact that they do not need to rely on a power grid or similar infrastructure.  

Wood burning appliances can be expensive to operate, are not very eco friendly and tend to cause air quality problems in the home.  Houses that are heating with wood can add additional energy sources to the home and still enjoy the ambiance of a fire should they wish.

Electric

Historically electrical heating in Ottawa was an expensive way to heat your home.  With the advent of cold climate heat pumps, this energy source has become increasingly popular. 
 
Heating your home with electricity is now a viable option that can cost you less than other traditional fuel sources.
 
Homeowners love the fact that electrically heated homes do not produce damaging carbon emissions. 
 
Flexible options include fully ducted central heat pumps, ductless heat pumps and a wide variety of electrical backup heaters. 

Propane

Ottawa area homeowners commonly use propane to heat their homes. 
 
Propane is more expensive than natural gas, which makes it an unpopular choice within city limits.  
 
In rural areas where natural gas is not available, propane may be the best alternative.  
 
Many homeowners dislike the visual aspect of propane tanks installed on the exterior of the home. Furthermore, the need to have these tanks refilled can be a nuisance to some.  
 
Propane is more popular than oil in rural areas as it is a cleaner burning fuel and propane appliances are more efficient than their oil counterparts.

Oil

Oil heating was a very popular fuel source in the Ottawa area in the mid twentieth century.  With advancements in technology, the use of oil has decreased immensely. 
 
Oil can be expensive to operate and tends to be poor in terms of efficiency. Ther government of Canada is making a push to eliminate all oil supported homes.  
 
Most homeowners that are utilizing oil are converting their homes to propane, natural gas, fully electric or a hybrid solution.  
 
Many homeowners are forced to convert due to the higher costs of operating and oil systems along with higher insurance costs for homes using this fuel.

Most Popular Fuel Conversions (Ottawa Area)

Far and away the most popular conversions in the Ottawa area include removing propane, oil and wood and replacing them with electric and natural gas sources.

Natural Gas Conversion

Converting your home from oil, propane or wood to natural gas is a logical choice for most people. If natural gas is available in your area, it is most definitely the best economic option.  At AirZone HVAC Services we can help Ottawa area homeowners coordinate the natural gas service, plan out the new infrastructure needed and install any appliances, gas piping or accessories needed to make the transition from fuels flawless.
 
Enjoy the reliability and ease of use that natural gas offers.  Not only will your utility bills drop but you no longer need to worry about oil tanks running out or unsightly propane cylinders on your property.

Electrifying your HVAC

The move towards electricity has accelerated in recent years to a feverish pace. Through government incentives (rebates) and prohibitive measures such as the carbon tax, Canada is moving towards a truly electrified future. 
 
Homeowners can move towards electrification by utilizing hybrid systems that include heat pumps.  For others that are looking to completely electrify, they can remove their former fuel source and adopt a fully green solution.  Many Ottawa homeowners are completely removing their propane, oil or natural gas and opting for cold climate heat pump systems that utilize electric back up heaters. 

How to determine what fuel source is best for you?

Homeowner Priorities

If you are looking at replacing your HVAC system and are wondering about changing fuel sources, it is important to determine what is important to you. Is a lower utility bill paramount? Are you concerned about your environmental impact? Or is the lowest upfront purchase costs valuable to you? 
 

Fuel Availability and Infrastructure

Determining what fuels and options are available in your area is very important. When converting to fully electric solutions, the existing infrastructure in the home may not be sufficient to support the added appliances. In this case we can help coordinate upgrades with electricians and hydro.  
 
 Our experts can help answer your questions concerning what options suit your home and your needs. 
 

Timelines & installation Urgency 

When you are in an emergency situation, it can be difficult to quickly pivot to a new system that requires infrastructure redesigns (natural gas or electric). In these cases, hybrid solutions can be very good options.  If you are looking to obtain natural gas service or upgrade your hydro to accomodate a new heating source, it may take a few months for enbridge or hydro to complete the work. 
Two Mitsubishi ZUBA Heat pumps installed in Ottawa Ontario by heating and cooling contractor AirZone HVAC Services.

Ottawa Fuel Conversion FAQ

Historically natural gas is the cheapest way to heat an Ottawa home.  With the advancements in cold climate heat pump technology, we have found that a hybrid system utilizing a heat pump in the should seasons and natural gas furnace in the dead of winter proves to be the cheapest utility bills.

This can be very dependent on your area and your exact situation. People located within the city, with neighbours using natural gas, generally get the meter installation for free. If you live in a rural area very far from the road, you may have costs associated with the installation. 

Most homes either have 100 amp or 200 amp service. In our experience, most 200 amp homes can support a fully electric HVAC system. It is rare that a 100 amp home can support a fully electric system, but it can be done. A free in-home assessment can determine if your electrical service can support your heating needs.

This depends on how busy enbridge and their subcontractors are. We have seen gas meters installed within a week and also meters that have taken 8 months. It seems that the average wait time is 2-3 months after application.

Propane costs have gone up in recent years but due to it’s efficiency is still cheaper than oil. Natural gas costs are significantly lower than propane.

YES! Hybrid systems allow you to still use natural gas in tandem with an electric heat pump.