Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Snyder Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Snyder, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Snyder 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%).
Snyder 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 Snyder
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Snyder. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using heating oil dipped from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Snyder
Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Snyder
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Snyder. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Snyder
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Snyder are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 homes used active solar heating.
Snyder County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Snyder County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Snyder’s overall fuel oil consumption varies from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Snyder was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Snyder County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Snyder County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Snyder homeowners heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Snyder is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Snyder. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. 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. A few of the 2 Snyder cash heating oil companies serving Snyder include Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc and Kratzer Oil Co Inc.
Snyder Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Snyder: 7 companies .
Average Number of Snyder Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 94779
Snyder Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Snyder heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Snyder temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Snyder residences are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Snyder County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Snyder County Households | Snyder County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
50 Snyder Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Snyder residences during this past winter, the Snyder community looks to its 50 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 Snyder, 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 Snyder and the surrounding vicinity.
