For most Connecticut homes that are not on a gas main, the choice is heating oil or propane. Both will keep the house warm. They differ in what else they can do, what the equipment needs and where the tank goes.
What each fuel is good at
Heating oil packs more heat into a gallon: about 138,500 BTU, against roughly 91,500 for propane. That is one reason oil is so common in older, larger New England houses with boilers and radiators.
Propane’s advantage is range. One tank can run the furnace, the water heater, the kitchen range, the dryer, a fireplace and a standby generator. Oil handles heat and hot water.
Equipment and upkeep
An oil burner should be cleaned and tuned every year. Propane burns cleaner, so there is less to clean, and a high-efficiency propane furnace can vent through a side wall, which means it does not need a chimney.
The tank
An oil tank usually sits in the basement or garage and holds 275 gallons. A propane tank sits outside, above ground or buried. We offer propane tanks in 60, 120, 500 and 1,000 gallon sizes.
Price
Do not compare the price per gallon directly. A gallon of oil holds about one and a half times the heat of a gallon of propane, so the per-gallon numbers are not measuring the same thing. Both prices move with the market. Ours are posted on the home heating oil and propane delivery pages.
So which one?
- If you already have a working oil boiler or furnace, staying with oil usually makes sense. Converting costs money that takes a long time to earn back.
- If you are building new, or you want gas cooking, a fireplace or a generator, propane does more with one tank.
- Plenty of homes use both: oil for heat, propane for the range and the generator.
We deliver both fuels, so we do not have a favorite. Call (203) 265-4328 and we will talk through your house.
