Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Adams Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host 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 homeowners. 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 (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
Heating oil has become less popular in Adams. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of households using number two heating oil fell from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Adams
Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Adams
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Adams. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Adams
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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, 7,204 homes in Adams are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 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 heating oil usage fluctuates each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two heating 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 oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Adams makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select 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 heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 return for better prices, you monitor the fuel 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 2 Adams cash heating oil companies serving Adams include Edris Oil Service Inc and Edris Oil Service Inc.
Adams Oil Company Statistics: Fuel 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 number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Adams temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Adams homes depend 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Adams homeowners last winter, the Adams community relies on its 9 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 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 residences and companies throughout Adams and the surrounding vicinity.
