Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Washington Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Washington, used by 298,426 or 48% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Washington homeowners is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
Washington County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number 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
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Washington. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using fuel oil decreased from 355,904 to 298,426, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 61,194 to 101,382, a 66% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 44,328 to 53,178, a 20% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Washington
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Washington. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 41,759 to 92,432, a 121% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Washington
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. As it stands today, 3,526 homes in Washington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 202% gain from 2018, when 1,169 homes utilized 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 use fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Washington makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace 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 homeowner 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 households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 1 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Vl Tammaro Oil Co Inc and .
Washington Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Washington: 1 companies .
Average Number of Washington Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 298426
Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 homes in Washington heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Washington homes are reliant on heating 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 246,945,991 gallons of oil delivered to Washington households the last heating season, the Washington community depends on its 1 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Washington and the surrounding region.
