Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fairfield Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Fairfield, used by 537,918 or 37% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Fairfield families is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).
Fairfield County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 537,918 | 88,504 | 302,730 | 491,612 | 19,550 | 6,488 | 10,689 |
| 2024 | 526,146 | 82,630 | 293,463 | 509,593 | 21,103 | 5,852 | 10,146 |
| 2023 | 530,315 | 92,469 | 276,839 | 496,091 | 19,885 | 4,238 | 15,392 |
| 2022 | 519,969 | 86,596 | 262,494 | 520,424 | 18,487 | 2,985 | 13,466 |
| 2021 | 506,772 | 80,721 | 258,306 | 532,053 | 22,992 | 2,966 | 14,306 |
| 2020 | 503,622 | 73,848 | 247,960 | 533,736 | 22,648 | 1,909 | 11,330 |
| 2019 | 500,471 | 66,974 | 237,614 | 535,420 | 22,304 | 852 | 8,355 |
| 2018 | 497,422 | 60,526 | 232,420 | 549,036 | 22,954 | 1,579 | 8,782 |
| 2017 | 478,136 | 55,608 | 219,208 | 562,247 | 24,510 | 1,029 | 10,257 |
| 2016 | 476,852 | 55,631 | 230,532 | 554,283 | 23,580 | 900 | 9,232 |
| 2015 | 471,195 | 51,915 | 214,414 | 561,996 | 29,530 | 937 | 8,159 |
| 2014 | 464,748 | 49,540 | 212,031 | 576,948 | 34,478 | 554 | 11,670 |
| 2013 | 449,787 | 46,397 | 209,463 | 585,757 | 29,361 | 401 | 10,236 |
| 2012 | 442,443 | 43,849 | 212,708 | 615,734 | 27,351 | 378 | 9,891 |
| 2011 | 437,840 | 43,778 | 207,267 | 625,164 | 25,707 | 611 | 7,588 |
| 2010 | 427,850 | 39,533 | 203,568 | 650,621 | 26,373 | 299 | 7,110 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Fairfield
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Fairfield. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of families using fuel oil fell from 554,283 to 491,612, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fairfield
Between 2016 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 55,631 to 88,504, a 59% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 476,852 to 537,918, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Fairfield
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Fairfield. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 230,532 to 302,730, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Fairfield
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 6,488 homes in Fairfield are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 621% gain from 2016, when 900 homes had active solar heating.
Fairfield County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Fairfield County homeowners purchased a total of 89 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Fairfield’s overall fuel oil use fluctuates yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Fairfield was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Fairfield County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30.6° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 35.2° F |
Fairfield County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Fairfield families heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 166 heating oil companies that serve Fairfield makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 1253 “full-service” oil companies that serve Fairfield. Full service companies such as Rural Energy LLC or L H Gault & Son offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Fairfield cash heating oil companies serving Fairfield include Affordable Heating & Fuel LLC and Elshaddai Oil Company.
Fairfield Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Fairfield: 166 companies .
Average Number of Fairfield Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 2962
Fairfield Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 homes in Fairfield heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Fairfield temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of Fairfield families rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
16.8% of Fairfield County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Fairfield County Households | Fairfield County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 2.9M | 491,612 |
2227 Fairfield Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 397,280,973 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Fairfield homes the last heating season, the Fairfield community depends on its 2227 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Fairfield, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Fairfield and the surrounding vicinity.