Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Washington Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Washington, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Washington residents is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Washington County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,725,574 | 377,922 | 1,365,710 | 1,103,323 | 92,054 | 16,434 | 100,232 |
| 2024 | 4,679,558 | 370,910 | 1,292,868 | 1,143,783 | 96,147 | 15,259 | 97,524 |
| 2023 | 4,581,041 | 402,335 | 1,263,700 | 1,212,850 | 100,015 | 11,208 | 104,369 |
| 2022 | 4,542,443 | 400,969 | 1,190,880 | 1,279,260 | 99,080 | 11,314 | 103,810 |
| 2021 | 4,489,009 | 388,311 | 1,118,015 | 1,293,770 | 108,202 | 8,858 | 98,952 |
| 2020 | 4,504,504 | 353,944 | 1,014,730 | 1,343,665 | 111,106 | 8,778 | 89,024 |
| 2019 | 4,519,999 | 319,576 | 911,445 | 1,393,560 | 114,011 | 8,697 | 79,096 |
| 2018 | 4,397,917 | 308,020 | 890,554 | 1,459,976 | 120,159 | 6,022 | 82,621 |
| 2017 | 4,339,349 | 294,973 | 867,925 | 1,496,843 | 122,088 | 5,988 | 77,386 |
| 2016 | 4,227,422 | 273,838 | 860,856 | 1,540,787 | 126,890 | 6,535 | 79,479 |
| 2015 | 4,202,413 | 265,224 | 808,370 | 1,649,860 | 141,016 | 3,120 | 78,999 |
| 2014 | 4,186,666 | 258,775 | 770,577 | 1,752,656 | 145,012 | 2,573 | 76,963 |
| 2013 | 4,074,510 | 259,367 | 764,400 | 1,802,442 | 148,422 | 2,525 | 81,841 |
| 2012 | 4,044,389 | 237,738 | 775,390 | 1,901,118 | 155,603 | 2,168 | 61,429 |
| 2011 | 4,014,222 | 222,634 | 707,016 | 1,979,067 | 143,287 | 2,728 | 63,609 |
| 2010 | 3,961,085 | 227,607 | 676,262 | 2,068,004 | 143,242 | 1,823 | 61,664 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Washington
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Washington. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using oil declined from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Washington
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Washington. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Washington
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Washington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Washington County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Washington’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Washington County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Washington residences heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 26 heating oil companies that serve Washington makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 77 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as Gf Heating Oil LLC or Wever Petroleum Inc offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Sweet's Fuel Service Inc and Richards Fuels Inc Richard Fuels.
Washington Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Washington: 26 companies .
Average Number of Washington Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 42436
Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Washington heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Washington residences rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Washington County Households | Washington County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
192 Washington Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Washington families the last heating season, the Washington community relies on its 192 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: 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 Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Washington and the surrounding area.
