Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Crawford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Crawford, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Crawford households 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%).
Crawford 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 Crawford
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Crawford. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of families using fuel oil declined from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Crawford
Between 2022 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel remained unchanged at 282,182, a 0% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,710,114 to 2,796,352, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Crawford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Crawford. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,337,240 to 1,447,260, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Crawford
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Crawford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes utilized active solar heating.
Crawford County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Crawford County homeowners purchased a total of 392,336 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Crawford’s overall heating oil usage changes each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Crawford was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Crawford County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Crawford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Crawford households heating with oil, picking which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Crawford can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Crawford. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 families who are on a budget. 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. Examples of 2 Crawford cash heating oil companies serving Crawford include Harned Oil Inc and Klasen Mcquiston Energy Corporation.
Crawford Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Crawford: 3 companies .
Average Number of Crawford Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 221150
Crawford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Crawford heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Crawford temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Crawford homes are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Crawford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Crawford County Households | Crawford County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
5 Crawford Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Crawford households during this past winter, the Crawford community looks to its 5 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Crawford, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Crawford and the surrounding area.
