What’s the Difference Between Propane and Heating Oil for Home Heating?

Those of us here in Dauphin County, PA are lucky enough to be able to choose from various heating sources, but understanding the differences and pros and cons can help you make the propane vs heating oil decision.

Propane vs Heating Oil for Dauphin County, PA Home Heating

Both types of fuel are delivered by truck and stored in tanks. Propane tanks are usually outside the house, either above or below ground. Heating oil tanks are usually in the basement.

So much for the similarities; let’s get into the differences.

Costs

Cost can be considered on three levels: installation, actual use, and maintenance.

Installation

Propane systems are usually cheaper to put in because they’re simpler and just have fewer components. And because you can typically put the tank almost anywhere on your property, you don’t have to worry about an extensive installation process. More safety measures have to go into putting a heating oil tank in, since this is actually in your home, making the heating oil tank the pricier install.

Use

In 2024, propane was cheaper per gallon than heating oil nationwide, on average, but that does vary all the time by region and season. And even though heating oil may be pricier than propane, it also offers higher BTUs, which is a way of measuring the amount of energy a gallon of fuel can provide. Heating oil gives you approximately 137,381 BTUs per gallon, while propane gives just 91,452.

It also matters how energy efficient your furnace is. Energy efficiency refers to how well the furnace can actually burn the fuel it has, and the average propane furnace is 98% efficient, while the best oil furnace is about 90% efficient. That means your propane furnace can get you about 89,623 BTUs out of a gallon of fuel, and your heating oil furnace will get you 123,643 per gallon.

Maintenance

The final cost to consider is maintenance. Your heating oil system is usually going to cost more to maintain because oil does not burn as cleanly as propane. That means you get more soot in the system, which reduces efficiency quickly and can even destroy the furnace if you don’t keep up with it. Propane is a cleaner-burning fuel, so you can usually get away with just one inspection a year with your propane tank but can easily need two to three professional cleanings with an oil tank.

Compatibility

You can use both propane and oil for furnaces, water heaters, and boilers, as well as programmable thermostats. But one of the benefits of propane is that you can use it for things like a fireplace, an outdoor grill, a stove, or even a clothes dryer. You can’t do that with heating oil.

Whatever you choose, we can help, and our great pricing plans allow us to offer you a way to control your costs through the winter, no matter what might happen to spot prices on either fuel. Reach out to us today at W.C. Eshenaur & Son, Inc. in Dauphin County, PA , where we serve dozens of towns all across Central PA.

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