Oil Furnace Installation in South County, RI
Oil Furnace Installation
Forced-air heating, properly sized and professionally installed
Furnaces blow heated air through ductwork to vents throughout the home, sharing the same duct system as central air conditioning. When the heat exchanger cracks or efficiency drops past the point where repair makes economic sense, a properly sized high-efficiency oil furnace pays for itself in fuel savings. SmithCo handles the full job: heat-loss sizing, equipment selection, install, permits, and post-install testing. Existing customers on our heating service plans receive priority scheduling for replacement quotes.
First question: do you actually need a furnace?
Most South County homes use one or the other, but not always for the right reasons. If you are replacing an existing system, you usually stay with the same type. If you are open to switching, here is how they differ.
Forced Air System
- Distributes heat: through ductwork to vents in each room
- Heats faster: warm air arrives in minutes
- Shares ducts: with central AC if you have it
- Air quality: can include humidifiers and air filtration
- Lifespan: 15 to 20 years on quality equipment
- Common in: newer construction, homes built after 1990
Hot Water System
- Distributes heat: through pipes to radiators or baseboard
- Heats steadier: longer to warm up, holds heat longer
- No ductwork: needs separate system for cooling
- Quieter: no fan noise, no air movement
- Lifespan: 25 to 30 years on quality equipment
- Common in: homes built between 1955 and 1990
If your existing home runs on a boiler and you want hot water heating, see our boiler installation page. The rest of this page covers furnaces specifically.
The three components that determine a furnace install
The Furnace
Where fuel burns and air gets heated. The heat exchanger is the most critical component. A crack in the exchanger means carbon monoxide can enter your home’s air supply, and that single failure usually drives the replacement decision.
The Blower
The fan that pushes heated air through your ductwork. Variable-speed blowers on modern furnaces use less electricity and run quieter than the single-speed blowers in older systems. Often replaceable independent of the furnace itself.
The Ductwork
The network of metal channels that carries heated air to each room. Most install jobs reuse existing ductwork. We inspect it as part of the evaluation and flag any leaks, sizing issues, or insulation gaps that should be addressed.
What a high-efficiency furnace upgrade actually saves
Furnaces are rated by Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which tells you what percentage of your fuel actually becomes usable heat. Modern oil furnaces hit 85 to 90 percent AFUE. Older furnaces installed in the 1990s or early 2000s often run at 70 to 80 percent. The gap is real fuel cost every winter.
Replacing a 70% AFUE furnace with an 88% unit cuts your annual fuel usage by roughly 20 percent. On a household burning 800 gallons of oil per winter, that is meaningful money every year.
From first call to working system in under a month
Free in-home evaluation
A real SmithCo technician comes out, measures the home, inspects the furnace and ductwork, and walks through what your existing system is doing well or poorly. No salesperson tactics, just an honest assessment.
Sized written quote
Within 3 to 5 days you get a written quote that includes the recommended model, the BTU sizing math, removal of old equipment, install labor, permits, and warranty terms. Approve when you are ready.
Install day
Our crew arrives, removes the old furnace, sets the new unit, connects the fuel line and ductwork, wires controls, and tests for proper combustion. Most jobs finish in one full day, two for complex setups.
Test and register
We fire the furnace, run efficiency tests, walk you through thermostat behavior, and register the manufacturer warranty in your name. Local inspector visits handled by us.
Technician came on Christmas Day in a timely manner and quickly plugged the leak in our tank. HUGE help to our family at an inconvenient time. Very professional.
Since 1985
License #2703
License #333
3,000+ South County
Oil furnace installation, answered
How do I know if my heat exchanger has cracked?
Can I keep my existing ductwork?
How long does a furnace installation take?
Should I switch to a gas furnace or heat pump instead?
How is furnace sizing actually calculated?
Does the new furnace come with a warranty?
Ready for a quote that actually fits your home?
Real technician visit. Real Manual J sizing. Written quote in 3 to 5 days. No pressure to commit.
Master Pipe Fitter License #2703
Family-owned since 1985