Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Crawford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety 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 homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Crawford households 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%).
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 less frequently used in Crawford. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of residents using oil declined from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Crawford
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel remained unchanged at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Crawford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Crawford. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% 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 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 Crawford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes used 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 fuel oil use changes annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 families heating with heating oil, picking which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Crawford makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating 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 Crawford cash heating oil companies serving Crawford include Harned Oil Inc and Klasen Mcquiston Energy Corporation.
Crawford Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Crawford: 3 companies .
Average Number of Crawford Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 221150
Crawford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Crawford heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Crawford temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Crawford households are reliant on fuel 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Crawford houses the last heating season, the Crawford community looks to its 5 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 Crawford, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Crawford and the surrounding vicinity.
