Get to know New Hampshire
Heating your New Hampshire home
Many New Hampshire homes heat with oil or propane, especially where natural gas lines don’t reach; others use heat pumps, wood or pellets. Ask what the house uses, how old the system is and what a full winter actually cost.
Bean Group editorial team · Published · About 2 min read
How are New Hampshire homes heated?
- Heating oil: common in older homes, delivered by truck to a tank in the basement or outside.
- Propane: delivered to a tank and used for heat, hot water, cooking or generators.
- Natural gas: available in parts of the larger cities and towns served by a gas utility.
- Heat pumps: electric systems that heat and cool, often added alongside an existing system.
- Wood and pellets: stoves and boilers used as primary or supplemental heat.
What should I ask about a home’s heating?
- What fuel and system does the house use, and how old is it? Ask for service records.
- What did the last full heating season cost? Ask for actual delivery or utility records.
- Is there a buried or basement oil tank? Ask about its age and condition.
- Is the propane tank owned or leased? A leased tank usually means buying fuel from that dealer.
- Is there backup heat if the power goes out, and how is the well pump powered?
- How well is the house insulated? Ice dams on older roofs often point to insulation and ventilation issues.
Have a licensed inspector or heating professional look at the system. These are questions to ask, not a substitute for an inspection.
How do fuel delivery and budget plans work?
If you use oil or propane, you set up an account with a local dealer. Many offer automatic delivery, a budget plan that spreads payments across the year, or a pre-buy price for the season. Compare a few dealers, and ask what happens if you run low in a storm.
The NH Department of Energy publishes statewide average prices for heating oil, propane and other fuels. Local prices vary, so get quotes for your address.
How do I budget for heat?
Treat heat as a monthly cost alongside taxes and insurance. The same size house can cost very differently to heat depending on fuel, insulation and the age of the building. Our cost of living guide and winter guide put it in context.
Official resources
These guides are general information from Bean Group, brokered by eXp Realty. They are not legal, tax, financial, insurance or inspection advice. Rules, rates and deadlines change—check current details with the relevant New Hampshire agency or a licensed professional before you act.