Oil Heat in Huntington's Colonials, Victorians and Estates
Huntington's historic houses, from 19th-century Colonials and Victorians to 1920s estates, mostly rely on cast-iron hydronic boilers, free-standing radiators and fuel oil. Converting them almost always means keeping the radiators and changing what heats the water. That can be a gas burner fitted to a boiler still in good condition, or a new gas boiler: either a standard model that uses the chimney or a high-efficiency condensing boiler venting through a sidewall in PVC.
Converting to a gas furnace is less common in these houses because there is no ductwork to serve, and adding it through lath-and-plaster walls is invasive. The mid-century split levels near the waterfront vary more, and we assess each one on its own terms.
Chimneys, Large Houses and Other Huntington Considerations
- Old masonry chimneys. Gas exhaust is cooler and wetter than oil exhaust and can damage an unlined flue, so a liner is often required. A tall chimney makes the liner a real line item.
- Gas load. A large estate house may need a bigger gas service and meter than a small ranch, which affects what National Grid has to bring in.
- Piping routes. Gas pipe from the meter to the boiler has to work around finished rooms, plaster and woodwork, and we plan that route at the assessment.
- The tank. Older tanks, especially buried ones, are a leak risk and something buyers ask about.
Where gas is not practical, a cold-climate heat pump may be the better route; read how heat pumps handle a Long Island winter.
Converting a Huntington Home: The Sequence
Start with National Grid. They confirm whether gas is on your street and what a service line and meter will take, and their schedule is usually the longest part of the project. It is outside any contractor's control, which is why we do not promise install dates.
Next comes our in-home assessment of the boiler, chimney, gas load and piping route, followed by a quote for a burner conversion or new equipment. Heating equipment retrofits in Huntington require a mechanical permit through the Town of Huntington Department of Engineering Services at 100 Main Street; K2 does not file town permits, so confirm the requirements with that office. Then we install the venting or chimney liner, run and leak-test the gas piping, and commission the boiler. Finally, a licensed tank company removes the oil tank or abandons it in place under town and fire marshal rules. Financing is available through Rheem KwikComfort, with credit provided by Synchrony Bank, subject to credit approval.
Where We Work Around Huntington
Huntington is 8.9 miles north of Deer Park, from our shop at 60 S 2nd St V. We also cover the neighboring communities:
- Huntington Station
- Greenlawn
- Centerport
- Halesite
- Huntington Bay
- Cold Spring Harbor
More for Huntington Homeowners
- All HVAC services in Huntington: cooling, heat pumps, ductless and more.
- Oil-to-Gas Conversion across Long Island: what we check, what affects the price and repair-or-replace advice.
- Furnace Repair in Huntington
- Boiler Repair in Huntington
Oil-to-Gas Conversion in Huntington: Questions
Will converting to gas mean opening up my plaster walls?
Usually not much. The radiators and their piping stay, so the main new work is the gas line from the meter to the boiler and the chimney liner or sidewall vent. We plan the piping route through basements and utility spaces where we can, and we tell you at the assessment if any finished surface has to be opened.
Can a 1920s boiler simply be fitted with a gas burner?
Sometimes. If the boiler sections are sound and the boiler is reasonably sized for the house, a conversion burner can work well. Many very old boilers, though, are oversized or worn enough that a new gas boiler is the better long-term choice. We look at condition, size and the chimney before recommending either path, and explain the reasoning.
Does a large Huntington house need a bigger gas service?
It can. A large home with a big boiler, plus a range, dryer or water heater you want on gas, adds up to a higher gas load. We calculate that load at the assessment so National Grid can size the service line and meter correctly. An undersized service causes low pressure at the appliances, so it is worth getting right first.
What happens to a buried oil tank on a Huntington property?
A licensed tank company either removes it or abandons it in place, following town and fire marshal rules. Buried tanks take more work than basement tanks, and that cost is separate from the conversion. If you plan to sell, buyers and lenders often ask about tank status, so keep the tank company's paperwork with your house records.
Request Oil-to-Gas Conversion in Huntington
Call (631) 414-7141 any time, or send the form and we will call you back to schedule. You get the cause and the price before any work starts. Financing is available through Rheem KwikComfort, with credit provided by Synchrony Bank, subject to credit approval.