Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Snyder Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from 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 families 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
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Snyder. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using oil decreased from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Snyder
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Snyder
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Snyder. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Snyder
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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Snyder are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 homes utilized 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 number two heating oil use varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 homes heating with oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Snyder can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Snyder. 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 HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers 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 Snyder cash heating oil companies serving Snyder include Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc and Kratzer Oil Co Inc.
Snyder Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Snyder: 7 companies .
Average Number of Snyder Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 94779
Snyder Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Snyder heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Snyder temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Snyder households rely on number two heating 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 Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Snyder homes during this past winter, the Snyder community depends on its 50 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Snyder, 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 Snyder and the surrounding vicinity.
