Furnace vs Boiler in Chittenden County, Vermont
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the simpler choice. It ties into what is already there, and it can run central air through the same ducts if you ever add cooling. With nine months a year of heating ahead of you, a system that matches what your home is already built for is worth more than a small edge in running cost.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes and has no ductwork, a boiler is the natural fit. It runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, and that gap matters over nine months of heating and nights that average 12°F. Installing ducts just to run a furnace would cost more than staying with the heat distribution your home already has.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the simpler choice. It ties into what is already there, and it can run central air through the same ducts if you ever add cooling. With nine months a year of heating ahead of you, a system that matches what your home is already built for is worth more than a small edge in running cost.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes and has no ductwork, a boiler is the natural fit. It runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, and that gap matters over nine months of heating and nights that average 12°F. Installing ducts just to run a furnace would cost more than staying with the heat distribution your home already has.
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 Chittenden 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 instead of ductwork, the 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 12°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 simpler choice. It ties into what is already there, and it can run central air through the same ducts if you ever add cooling. With nine months a year of heating ahead of you, a system that matches what your home is already built for is worth more than a small edge in running cost.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes and has no ductwork, a boiler is the natural fit. It runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, and that gap matters over nine months of heating and nights that average 12°F. Installing ducts just to run a furnace would cost more than staying with the heat distribution your home already has.
A Chittenden County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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