Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Washington Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Washington, used by 298,426 or 48% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Washington homeowners is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
Washington County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 56,154 | 108,059 | 99,960 | 293,815 | 65,168 | 3,873 | 9,806 |
| 2025 | 53,178 | 101,382 | 92,432 | 298,426 | 65,496 | 3,526 | 9,422 |
| 2024 | 51,248 | 98,171 | 83,361 | 309,159 | 59,610 | 3,144 | 8,226 |
| 2023 | 51,811 | 84,744 | 79,160 | 323,666 | 57,999 | 2,137 | 12,767 |
| 2022 | 48,991 | 84,304 | 63,901 | 339,456 | 51,998 | 1,704 | 11,224 |
| 2021 | 47,952 | 78,322 | 61,019 | 345,133 | 46,227 | 1,374 | 10,375 |
| 2020 | 46,351 | 73,782 | 54,514 | 345,001 | 50,077 | 1,210 | 9,402 |
| 2019 | 44,750 | 69,241 | 48,008 | 344,869 | 53,927 | 1,047 | 8,428 |
| 2018 | 44,328 | 61,194 | 41,759 | 355,904 | 54,843 | 1,169 | 8,683 |
| 2017 | 41,841 | 61,816 | 36,406 | 331,541 | 54,454 | 1,228 | 10,328 |
| 2016 | 41,879 | 52,621 | 33,543 | 333,900 | 55,290 | 312 | 11,584 |
| 2015 | 37,624 | 50,511 | 35,138 | 336,337 | 70,767 | 604 | 11,270 |
| 2014 | 37,608 | 48,027 | 28,040 | 342,185 | 78,214 | 451 | 11,692 |
| 2013 | 31,836 | 45,601 | 28,747 | 351,842 | 76,707 | 486 | 9,827 |
| 2012 | 28,621 | 41,477 | 23,260 | 374,110 | 76,225 | 635 | 6,995 |
| 2011 | 27,427 | 42,224 | 24,723 | 379,409 | 68,055 | 307 | 6,480 |
| 2010 | 23,135 | 36,617 | 27,813 | 384,021 | 65,520 | 446 | 5,177 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Washington
Oil has become less popular in Washington. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using heating oil fell from 374,110 to 298,426, a 20% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington
Between 2012 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 41,477 to 101,382, a 144% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 28,621 to 53,178, a 86% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Washington
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Washington. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 23,260 to 92,432, a 297% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Washington
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. Currently, 3,526 homes in Washington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 455% gain from 2012, when 635 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Washington County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 439,688 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Washington’s overall fuel oil usage changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Washington County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Washington residences heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Washington can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 0 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Inc and .
Washington Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Washington: 0 companies .
Average Number of Washington Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 298426
Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 households in Washington heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Washington households depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Washington County Households | Washington County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
0 Washington Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 246,945,991 gallons of oil delivered to Washington houses the last heating season, the Washington community relies on its 0 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Washington, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Washington and the surrounding vicinity.
