Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Clearfield Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Clearfield, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Clearfield homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Clearfield 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 Clearfield
Heating oil has become less popular in Clearfield. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of residents using number two heating oil dipped from 717,601 to 663,450, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Clearfield
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 278,621 to 282,182, a 1% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Clearfield
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Clearfield. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Clearfield
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 Clearfield are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 homes utilized active solar heating.
Clearfield County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Clearfield County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Clearfield’s overall fuel oil use changes from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Clearfield was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Clearfield County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Clearfield County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Clearfield residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Clearfield 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 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Clearfield. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Clearfield cash heating oil companies serving Clearfield include Jacobs Oil Co Inc and Jj Powell Inc.
Clearfield Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Clearfield: 8 companies .
Average Number of Clearfield Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 82931
Clearfield Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Clearfield heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Clearfield temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Clearfield residences depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Clearfield County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Clearfield County Households | Clearfield County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
107 Clearfield Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Clearfield families the last heating season, the Clearfield community relies on its 107 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 Clearfield, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Clearfield and the surrounding region.