Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Washington Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Washington, used by 298,426 or 48% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Washington residents is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
Washington County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53,178 | 101,382 | 92,432 | 298,426 | 65,496 | 3,526 | 9,422 |
| 2024 | 51,248 | 98,171 | 83,361 | 309,159 | 59,610 | 3,144 | 8,226 |
| 2023 | 51,811 | 84,744 | 79,160 | 323,666 | 57,999 | 2,137 | 12,767 |
| 2022 | 48,991 | 84,304 | 63,901 | 339,456 | 51,998 | 1,704 | 11,224 |
| 2021 | 47,952 | 78,322 | 61,019 | 345,133 | 46,227 | 1,374 | 10,375 |
| 2020 | 46,351 | 73,782 | 54,514 | 345,001 | 50,077 | 1,210 | 9,402 |
| 2019 | 44,750 | 69,241 | 48,008 | 344,869 | 53,927 | 1,047 | 8,428 |
| 2018 | 44,328 | 61,194 | 41,759 | 355,904 | 54,843 | 1,169 | 8,683 |
| 2017 | 41,841 | 61,816 | 36,406 | 331,541 | 54,454 | 1,228 | 10,328 |
| 2016 | 41,879 | 52,621 | 33,543 | 333,900 | 55,290 | 312 | 11,584 |
| 2015 | 37,624 | 50,511 | 35,138 | 336,337 | 70,767 | 604 | 11,270 |
| 2014 | 37,608 | 48,027 | 28,040 | 342,185 | 78,214 | 451 | 11,692 |
| 2013 | 31,836 | 45,601 | 28,747 | 351,842 | 76,707 | 486 | 9,827 |
| 2012 | 28,621 | 41,477 | 23,260 | 374,110 | 76,225 | 635 | 6,995 |
| 2011 | 27,427 | 42,224 | 24,723 | 379,409 | 68,055 | 307 | 6,480 |
| 2010 | 23,135 | 36,617 | 27,813 | 384,021 | 65,520 | 446 | 5,177 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Washington
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Washington. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of households using oil dipped from 345,001 to 298,426, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington
Between 2020 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 73,782 to 101,382, a 37% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 46,351 to 53,178, a 15% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Washington
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Washington. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 54,514 to 92,432, a 70% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Washington
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 3,526 homes in Washington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 191% gain from 2020, when 1,210 homes had active solar heating.
Washington County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 439,688 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Washington’s overall oil consumption varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Washington County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Washington homeowners heating with oil, picking which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Washington plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 families who are budget-conscious. 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 1 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Vl Tammaro Oil Co Inc and .
Washington Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Washington: 1 companies .
Average Number of Washington Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 298426
Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 households in Washington heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Washington families are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Washington County Households | Washington County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
1 Washington Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 246,945,991 gallons of oil delivered to Washington homeowners during this past winter, the Washington community looks to its 1 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Washington, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Washington and the surrounding region.
