Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Armstrong Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Armstrong, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Armstrong homeowners 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%).
Armstrong 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 Armstrong
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Armstrong. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of residents using oil declined from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Armstrong
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 jumped from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Armstrong
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Armstrong. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Armstrong
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Armstrong are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes used active solar heating.
Armstrong County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Armstrong County homeowners purchased a total of 794,996 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Armstrong’s overall heating oil use varies each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Armstrong was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Armstrong County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Armstrong County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Armstrong homeowners heating with oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Armstrong plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Armstrong. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace 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 client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Armstrong cash heating oil companies serving Armstrong include Butler Petroleum Corporation and Paul Bradigan Sons Inc.
Armstrong Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Armstrong: 7 companies .
Average Number of Armstrong Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 94779
Armstrong Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Armstrong heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Armstrong temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Armstrong homes are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Armstrong County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Armstrong County Households | Armstrong County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
42 Armstrong Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Armstrong homes during this past winter, the Armstrong community relies on its 42 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Armstrong, 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 Armstrong and the surrounding area.