Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Union Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Union, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Union 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%).
Union County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Union
Fuel oil has become less popular in Union. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil fell from 870,064 to 663,450, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Union
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 195,799 to 282,182, a 44% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,516,052 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Union
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Union. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,086,074 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Union
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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Union are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 412% gain from 2013, when 1,408 homes used active solar heating.
Union County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Union County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Union’s overall fuel oil usage varies each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Union was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Union County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Union County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Union residences heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Union can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Union. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 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 exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Union cash heating oil companies serving Union include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and Kratzer Oil Co Inc.
Union Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Union: 6 companies .
Average Number of Union Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 110575
Union Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Union heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Union temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Union households rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Union County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Union County Households | Union County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
25 Union Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Union households last winter, the Union community looks to its 25 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 Union, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Union and the surrounding area.
