Q: Are oil furnaces safer than gas?

• <div><p>Oil furnaces don&rsquo;t emit poisonous or highly flammable gases, making them less dangerous in your home than gas furnaces because they have a much lower chance of combusting. An oil furnace does pose the risk of causing a fire if it tips over, but it is generally considered safer <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/should-i-install-oil-or-gas-furnace.htm">compared to a gas furnace</a>.</p></div>

Q: Can I convert my oil furnace to gas?

• <div><p>Yes, it&rsquo;s possible to convert an oil furnace to gas. However, you may have to replace the furnace completely instead of simply converting it. If the original oil furnace has had any type of damage or is older (typically considered over 15 years old), then you will likely need a full replacement versus a conversion.</p></div>

Question 1

Are oil furnaces safer than gas?

Accepted Answer

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Oil furnaces don’t emit poisonous or highly flammable gases, making them less dangerous in your home than gas furnaces because they have a much lower chance of combusting. An oil furnace does pose the risk of causing a fire if it tips over, but it is generally considered safer compared to a gas furnace.

Question 2

Are there modern alternatives to traditional gas piping systems?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, flexible tubing and high-efficiency gas lines are options for new installations.

Question 3

Can I convert my oil furnace to gas?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, it’s possible to convert an oil furnace to gas. However, you may have to replace the furnace completely instead of simply converting it. If the original oil furnace has had any type of damage or is older (typically considered over 15 years old), then you will likely need a full replacement versus a conversion.

Question 4

Can you vent a gas water heater out the side of the house?

Accepted Answer

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You can and should vent the gas from your hot water heater to the outside of your home. Traditionally, these gases were vented back to other gas appliances, like stoves or furnaces, but many jurisdictions have outlawed this practice due to the risks it provides.

Most water heaters today use atmospheric venting that exhausts the gas out of the home through a pipe.

Question 5

How do you reset an earthquake gas shut-off valve?

Accepted Answer

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The best way to reset this valve is to contact your utility provider to do so safely. If the pipes are damaged and you reset the valve anyway, it could lead to a gas leak. It’s important to call in a pro as soon as you can to reconnect your gas supply after an earthquake and ensure the device will work again the next time there’s a quake.