Choosing the Right Furnace Fuel Type for Your Home

The first decision you will need to make when purchasing a new system is which fuel type to choose.

• Gas furnaces: We recommend natural gas furnaces for homeowners with a natural gas connection. These powerful heating systems will quickly heat your home to a comfortable temperature on the coldest days. If you’re in areas like Ashland, where winters can be particularly harsh, a gas furnace offers both reliability and efficiency.
• Electric furnaces: Although they can last longer than gas furnaces and cost less upfront, they are more expensive to operate and take longer to heat your home. Anyone living in a cold climate would enjoy more comfort with a gas or oil furnace.
• Oil furnaces: These are a popular alternative in areas that do not have easy access to natural gas. Oil furnace replacements are a favorite of ours with today’s models being much more energy-efficient. If you’re exploring alternatives, our energy-saving heat pump systems offer both heating and cooling for year-round comfort. Homeowners in Hopkinton, where oil heating remains common, can benefit from modern oil furnace upgrades.

Upgrade to High-Efficiency Furnaces and Save

At Obie Comfort Solutions, we specialize in replacing old, outdated furnaces (which we refer to as "Zombies") with ultra-efficient equipment. The last thing to consider in your new furnace is how energy-efficient it is. When upgrading your system, our professional heating installation services ensure optimal performance from day one. Furnace efficiency is reflected by its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating. The AFUE rating on a furnace indicates how much energy it converts. If you’re looking for trusted furnace professionals in Natick, our team is ready to help.

• A furnace with an AFUE rating of 80 will convert 80% of the energy it consumes into heat with 20% waste.
• A furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 will convert 95% of the energy it consumes into heat with 5% waste.

As you can see, investing in a system with a higher AFUE rating pays off over time. The higher the AFUE rating, the more money you save on monthly utility bills. Energy-efficient furnaces emit fewer greenhouse gasses and make less noise when they operate, reducing your home’s carbon footprint and boosting your home comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What furnace services does Obie Comfort Solutions provide?
Answer: Obie offers comprehensive furnace services including installation, repair, and tune?ups for gas, electric, and oil furnaces.

Question: What fuel types can Obie work with for furnaces?
Answer: They work with natural gas, electric, and oil furnaces, and are licensed to service oil systems in Massachusetts.

Question: What is AFUE and why does it matter when choosing a furnace?
Answer: AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) indicates how much fuel is converted to heat. Higher AFUE means less waste—e.g. a 95 AFUE furnace converts 95% of fuel into heat and wastes 5%.

Question: Does Obie customize furnace services per home?
Answer: Yes. They tailor solutions to each home’s needs—considering heating load, fuel availability, and efficiency goals.

Question: Are Obie’s technicians certified for furnace work?
Answer: Yes. Their technicians are NATE and EPA?certified and properly licensed (including oil burner license) in Massachusetts.