Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Crawford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Crawford, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Crawford households 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%).
Crawford County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,805,138 | 291,502 | 1,481,338 | 646,118 | 111,006 | 7,892 | 31,343 |
| 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 Crawford
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Crawford. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using oil decreased from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Crawford
Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 225,476 to 282,182, a 25% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Crawford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Crawford. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Crawford
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Crawford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Crawford County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Crawford County homeowners purchased a total of 392,336 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Crawford’s overall number two heating oil consumption fluctuates from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Crawford was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Crawford County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Crawford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Crawford households heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Crawford makes a big difference.
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 Crawford. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 0 Crawford cash heating oil companies serving Crawford include Inc and .
Crawford Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Crawford: 0 companies .
Average Number of Crawford Households Served per Heating Oil company : 663450
Crawford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Crawford heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Crawford temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Crawford households depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Crawford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Crawford County Households | Crawford County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
0 Crawford Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Crawford households the last heating season, the Crawford community relies on its 0 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 Crawford, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Crawford and the surrounding vicinity.
