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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Wayne Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Wayne, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Wayne families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Wayne County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20252,796,352282,1821,447,260663,450112,2707,20431,146
20242,785,913276,5981,396,275685,083111,4166,15532,085
20232,698,411278,6211,389,291717,601111,5406,96444,558
20222,710,114282,6251,337,240742,118105,1475,28241,959
20212,677,533267,4541,287,322760,867109,8324,86746,436
20202,656,062251,4721,254,850776,616113,9004,55441,326
20192,634,591235,4901,222,377792,365117,9694,24136,216
20182,592,386225,4761,198,450806,761128,1102,19735,172
20172,598,275222,6501,158,937790,353127,1982,22535,586
20162,551,248209,7191,133,797805,822125,5831,63934,565
20152,549,385200,7541,103,995837,082141,8352,11738,034
20142,528,694198,2961,087,741858,758148,2561,76036,886
20132,516,052195,7991,086,074870,064148,5971,40833,941
20122,530,063188,8801,046,982936,674145,0891,48431,494
20112,516,883178,3871,019,764973,749137,6251,54528,259
20102,530,446177,562997,925993,832126,07459729,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Wayne

Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Wayne. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil declined from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Wayne

Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Wayne

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Wayne. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Wayne

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. Today, 7,204 homes in Wayne are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes used active solar heating.

Wayne County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Wayne County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Wayne’s overall oil use varies annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Wayne was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Wayne County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202529.3° F
2023 - 202434.8° F

Wayne County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Wayne homeowners heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Wayne plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

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 Wayne. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Wayne cash heating oil companies serving Wayne include W V Tinklepaugh & Son Inc and B&S Oil.

Wayne Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Wayne: 11 companies .
Average Number of Wayne Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 60314

Wayne Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses in Wayne heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Wayne temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Wayne families depend on oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Wayne County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Wayne County HouseholdsWayne County Heating Oil Households
10.7M663,450

82 Wayne Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Wayne homeowners during this past winter, the Wayne community looks to its 82 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 Wayne, 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 residences and companies throughout Wayne and the surrounding region.