Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Adams Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Adams, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Adams residents 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
Oil has become less popular in Adams. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Adams
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Adams
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Adams. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Adams
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. Now, 7,204 homes in Adams are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes utilized 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 oil use fluctuates each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 number two heating oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Adams can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 4 “full-service” oil companies that serve Adams. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Smart Touch Energy offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Adams cash heating oil companies serving Adams include Edris Oil Service Inc and Edris Oil Service Inc.
Adams Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Adams: 6 companies .
Average Number of Adams Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 110575
Adams Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Adams heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Adams temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Adams residences are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Adams households during this past winter, the Adams community relies on its 9 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Adams, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Adams and the surrounding area.
