Still relying on an aging oil furnace or boiler in your Bowling Green home? Rising delivery costs, storage tank headaches, and inefficient performance make oil a burden for many Ohio homeowners. By switching to natural gas, you can reduce heating bills, improve reliability, and add long-term value to your property.
At Tin Man Heating & Cooling, we’ve been helping homeowners across Bowling Green, Findlay, and Toledo transition to natural gas since 1988. Our licensed technicians handle the entire conversion process — from gas line hookup to furnace replacement — so you get a cleaner, more efficient system without the stress.
Call Tin Man today at 419.827.5799 to schedule your oil-to-gas conversion consultation or book an appointment online.
Before making the switch, the most important factor is whether your property has access to a natural gas line. Unlike heating oil, which is delivered by truck and stored in a tank on your property, natural gas is piped directly to your home.
Homes in Central Bowling Green: Most neighborhoods near the city center already have natural gas service.
Outlying Areas: If you live outside the main distribution zones or in more rural parts of Wood County, a utility company may need to extend service lines. In some cases, they’ll cover part of the cost since you’ll be a new customer.
No Line Yet? If your street doesn’t have gas service, Tin Man can coordinate with your local provider to explore options.
Confirming availability early ensures the rest of the process goes smoothly.
While conversion requires an upfront investment, the long-term advantages are significant.
Heating oil prices are volatile and depend heavily on global markets. Natural gas, produced domestically, is generally 40–60% cheaper per unit of energy. For the average household in Northwest Ohio, this translates to hundreds of dollars in annual savings. Within 5–7 years, most families recoup the full cost of conversion through lower utility bills.
Many older oil furnaces and boilers operate at just 55–70% efficiency. That means a large portion of your heating fuel is wasted. New natural gas systems regularly achieve 90%+ efficiency, which means more heat for every dollar you spend.
Natural gas burns more cleanly than oil, reducing soot, smoke, and sulfur emissions. For homeowners, that means cleaner indoor air, less wear on chimneys, and a reduced risk of carbon buildup inside the furnace.
Oil tanks need regular refills, inspections, and maintenance. In Bowling Green winters, delivery delays can leave homeowners without heat. With natural gas, supply is continuous — no deliveries, no running out on the coldest day of the year.
Buyers recognize the costs and inconvenience of oil systems. A natural gas heating system makes your property more attractive, easier to sell, and often raises its market value.
Once a gas line is installed, you can power more than just your furnace. Fireplaces, water heaters, dryers, pool heaters, and grills can all run on the same supply — expanding comfort and convenience in your home.
Every home in Bowling Green is unique, so the exact process and cost of converting from oil to natural gas depends on your property, current system, and local utility access. Here’s what a typical conversion might include:
If your home isn’t already connected to natural gas, the first step is coordinating with your local utility provider. In much of Wood County, new gas lines can be installed, but access depends on the proximity of existing mains. Tin Man works directly with providers to make sure your line is safely connected and ready for use. Once the utility sets the line, our licensed technicians complete the interior hook-up and ensure your system is code-compliant.
Most oil furnaces and boilers in Bowling Green homes are decades old and inefficient. During a conversion, your oil unit is removed and replaced with a high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler. Not only does this cut operating costs, but it also improves comfort by delivering consistent heat without the smell, soot, or frequent maintenance oil systems require.
Old oil tanks — whether above ground or buried — can’t just be abandoned. Local codes often require decommissioning or complete removal. This step protects your property value and eliminates the risk of soil contamination, especially in Bowling Green’s moisture-heavy clay soils where tanks corrode quickly. While this adds some cost, it’s a critical part of protecting your home long-term.
Traditional oil furnaces and boilers vent through masonry chimneys. When switching to gas, those chimneys often need modifications, such as a stainless-steel liner, to handle cooler exhaust gases and prevent moisture damage. Homeowners who opt for high-efficiency equipment may bypass the chimney entirely, since modern systems vent directly outdoors through PVC piping.
Efficiency isn’t just about the furnace or boiler — it’s also about how heat moves through your home. If your ductwork is leaky or undersized, or if your radiators are outdated, those issues may need attention to get the full benefit of a new gas system. Our team inspects these components and provides recommendations so your investment pays off in lower bills and greater comfort.
In Bowling Green, most conversions range between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on the scope of work. While that may sound steep, the long-term savings usually offset the cost in as little as five years. Tin Man also offers financing options to spread out payments and helps homeowners access rebates and efficiency incentives available through local programs, making the transition more affordable.
One of the first questions homeowners ask us is, “How long will I be without heat?” The good news is that most oil-to-gas conversions in the Bowling Green area are completed within 3 to 5 days once all permits and utility work are approved. The exact timeline depends on your home’s setup and the scope of the project.
Utility Connection: If a new gas line needs to be run to your property, coordination with the local utility company is required. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on scheduling and demand. Tin Man helps manage this process so there are no surprises.
Equipment Installation: Replacing your old oil furnace or boiler with a new gas system typically takes 1–2 days. Our team works efficiently to minimize downtime and restore heating quickly.
Oil Tank Removal: Above-ground tanks can usually be removed in a single day, while underground tanks may add 1–2 days for excavation, decommissioning, and site restoration.
Final Inspections & Testing: Local inspectors will review the work to ensure compliance with safety codes. Tin Man always performs a full system test to verify proper operation before we leave.
For most Bowling Green homeowners, the transition from oil to gas is straightforward and completed with minimal disruption. We take care of the planning, permitting, and scheduling so you can focus on enjoying reliable, efficient heating.
Natural gas isn’t just a smart choice nationally — it makes sense here in Northwest Ohio because of:
Northwest Ohio winters often bring long stretches of subfreezing temperatures, with January lows dipping into the teens and wind chills making it feel even colder. Oil furnaces not only cost more to run during these high-demand months but also put you at the mercy of timely fuel deliveries. A snowstorm or supply delay can leave your home without heat when you need it most. Natural gas, by contrast, flows continuously through underground pipelines, unaffected by road conditions or weather — giving families peace of mind all winter long.
Bowling Green has a large number of mid-century and older homes, many of which still rely on original oil-fired heating equipment. These systems are often oversized, inefficient, and prone to frequent breakdowns. In addition, older ductwork or radiator systems can magnify energy waste. A gas conversion not only replaces the furnace or boiler but also provides an opportunity to update aging infrastructure, improve efficiency, and ensure your home meets today’s energy standards. For buyers, that modernization makes a property far more appealing.
Many homeowners in Wood County and the surrounding area still have buried oil tanks on their property. Unfortunately, Ohio’s clay-heavy soils hold moisture, which accelerates corrosion of steel tanks. Once rust eats through, oil can seep into the ground, creating expensive environmental hazards and cleanup obligations. Even above-ground tanks are prone to leaks, condensation, and stability issues in cold weather. By converting to natural gas, you eliminate the tank entirely, along with the risk of leaks, soil contamination, and costly remediation.
Switching fuels is not a simple DIY project. It requires careful planning, licensed installation, and adherence to strict safety codes. At Tin Man, we provide:
✓ Decades of Local Experience: Serving Bowling Green since 1988, we understand the unique needs of area homes.
✓ Licensed, Safety-Focused Technicians: Our team is trained in natural gas safety, leak detection, and code compliance.
✓ Transparent Pricing: We provide detailed quotes and walk you through every option before work begins.
✓ Customer-First Service: From financing to post-install inspections, our goal is to make the process stress-free.
Don’t let another winter go by with high oil bills and unreliable heating. Converting to natural gas is an investment that pays off in comfort, safety, and savings.
Call 419.827.5799 today or request your free consultation online. Proudly serving Bowling Green, Findlay, Toledo, and surrounding Northwest Ohio communities.