Today's Oil Heat is Economical

When adjusted for inflation, heating oil prices have remained virtually unchanged over the past 30 years. Compare that trend to any other fuel source and home heating oil is the obvious winner for the most economical fuel source around. In addition, since 1995, the average price for heating oil has been lower than natural gas. Natural gas just doesn't seem to adhere to the old adage "What goes up must come down." Unlike home heating oil, once prices for natural gas increase, they almost never go down.

The tricky part for homeowners is to find a common language for cost comparison. BTU, short for British Thermal Unit, is a standard measurement for heat. Let's look at how home heating oil stacks up.