Oil-to-Gas Conversion in Babylon, NY

The oil systems we see in Babylon are mostly boilers feeding cast iron radiators in older village houses, plus oil furnaces in some ranches. That matters for the plan. A sound cast iron boiler can sometimes take a gas conversion burner, while an aging oil furnace is usually better replaced with new gas equipment. Historic Victorians and saltbox Colonials tend to have tall masonry chimneys built for oil exhaust, and how that chimney handles cooler gas exhaust is one of the first things we look at.

• Buried tanks on wet lots. Homes near the bay and along the canals have high water tables, so a buried oil tank is worth dealing with sooner rather than later. Removal or abandonment is done by a licensed tank company.
• Flood-exposed basements. If the basement has flooded before, we plan new equipment, controls and the gas meter connection with that in mind.
• Old chimneys. Gas exhaust is cooler and wetter than oil exhaust and can condense in an unlined masonry flue, so a liner is often needed. A high-efficiency unit can vent through the wall with PVC instead.
• Two building departments. Village properties go through the Village of Babylon Building Department on W Main St; other areas go through the Town of Babylon Building Division in Lindenhurst. K2 does not file town permits, so confirm requirements with the right office.

1. Gas availability. You confirm with National Grid that gas is on your street and what a service line and meter will take. Their schedule is usually the longest wait, and no contractor controls it.

2. Assessment. We look at the existing equipment, the chimney, the gas load of the house and the piping route, then quote either a burner conversion or new equipment.

3. Venting. We install a chimney liner sized for the new appliance, or set up sidewall PVC venting for a condensing unit.

4. Gas piping and start-up. We run piping from the meter to the furnace or boiler and any other appliances you want on gas, pressure-test it for leaks, commission the equipment and walk you through it.

5. The oil tank. A licensed tank company removes or abandons it under town and fire marshal rules. Keep that paperwork.

Some Babylon owners leaving oil ask about cold-climate heat pumps instead, since they add cooling for humid South Shore summers. Rebates on qualifying models are applied for through PSEG Long Island; check current terms at psegliny.com. Our article on heat pumps in a Long Island winter lays out the tradeoffs.