Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Adams Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety 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 families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Adams families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Adams County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 losing popularity in Adams. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of households using oil decreased from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Adams
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Adams
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Adams. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Adams
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Adams are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 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 number two heating oil use varies yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Adams can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace 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 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 families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Adams: 6 companies .
Average Number of Adams Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 110575
Adams Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Adams heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Adams temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Adams households are reliant on number two 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 Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Adams houses last winter, the Adams community looks to its 9 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 Adams, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Adams and the surrounding vicinity.
