Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Union Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Union, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Union residents 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%).
Union 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 Union
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Union. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using oil dropped from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Union
Between 2014 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 shot up from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Union
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Union. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Union
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Union are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 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 oil use varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating 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 number two heating oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Union makes a big difference.
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 Union. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are on a budget. 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. Examples of 2 Union cash heating oil companies serving Union include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and Kratzer Oil Co Inc.
Union Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Union: 6 companies .
Average Number of Union Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575
Union Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Union heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Union temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Union residences depend on 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 Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Union households the last heating season, the Union community looks to its 25 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Union and the surrounding area.
