Furnace vs Boiler in Windham County, Vermont
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, and just over half the homes in this region are in that position. Nights here average 14°F from December through February, with heat needed about nine months of the year, so that ductwork gets used hard. The same ducts can carry central air conditioning later, which a boiler's radiators or in-floor pipes can't.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler keeps you with the system you already have. It also runs about 5% cheaper here at Vermont prices, which adds up over nine months of heating. The tradeoff is that it won't give you a path to central air conditioning, since a boiler heats water, not air.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, and just over half the homes in this region are in that position. Nights here average 14°F from December through February, with heat needed about nine months of the year, so that ductwork gets used hard. The same ducts can carry central air conditioning later, which a boiler's radiators or in-floor pipes can't.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler keeps you with the system you already have. It also runs about 5% cheaper here at Vermont prices, which adds up over nine months of heating. The tradeoff is that it won't give you a path to central air conditioning, since a boiler heats water, not air.
Furnace
- Runs on
- Natural gas
- What it does
- Heats only
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Boiler
- Runs on
- Natural gas
- What it does
- Heats only
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Furnace wins in Windham County.
In New England, 54.8% of homes heat with a furnace, so just over half already have the ductwork it needs.
If your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes and no ductwork, a boiler is still the better choice.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Furnace | Boiler |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | About 5% less to run |
| What it does | Heats only | Heats only |
| Homes in New England that heat with one | 54.8% | 26.2% |
| Handles a 14°F night | Yes | Yes |
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, NOAA
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, and just over half the homes in this region are in that position. Nights here average 14°F from December through February, with heat needed about nine months of the year, so that ductwork gets used hard. The same ducts can carry central air conditioning later, which a boiler's radiators or in-floor pipes can't.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler keeps you with the system you already have. It also runs about 5% cheaper here at Vermont prices, which adds up over nine months of heating. The tradeoff is that it won't give you a path to central air conditioning, since a boiler heats water, not air.
A Windham County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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