Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Adams Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Adams, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Adams homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Adams County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Adams
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Adams. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using oil dropped from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Adams
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 225,476 to 282,182, a 25% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Adams
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Adams. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Adams
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, 7,204 homes in Adams are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes had active solar heating.
Adams County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Adams County homeowners purchased a total of 622,704 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Adams’s overall heating oil use fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Adams was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Adams County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Adams County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Adams households heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Adams makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 4 “full-service” oil companies that serve Adams. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Smart Touch Energy offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Adams cash heating oil companies serving Adams include Edris Oil Service Inc and Edris Oil Service Inc.
Adams Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Adams: 6 companies .
Average Number of Adams Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 110575
Adams Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Adams heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Adams temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12% of Adams houses are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.15% of Adams County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Adams County Households | Adams County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
9 Adams Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,888.761 gallons of heating oil delivered to Adams families last winter, the Adams community relies on its 9 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 Adams, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Adams and the surrounding area.
