Furnace vs Boiler in Lamoille County, Vermont
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air and pushes it through the ducts you already have, and with nine months of heating season and nights down near 10°F, you want a system already matched to the house. No ducts to add means one less thing standing between you and heat.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler works with what is already there instead of against it. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Vermont prices, which matters when you are heating nine months a year. Choose it when the pipes are already in place, not when you would need to add them.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air and pushes it through the ducts you already have, and with nine months of heating season and nights down near 10°F, you want a system already matched to the house. No ducts to add means one less thing standing between you and heat.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler works with what is already there instead of against it. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Vermont prices, which matters when you are heating nine months a year. Choose it when the pipes are already in place, not when you would need to add them.
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 Lamoille 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 10°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. It heats the air and pushes it through the ducts you already have, and with nine months of heating season and nights down near 10°F, you want a system already matched to the house. No ducts to add means one less thing standing between you and heat.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler works with what is already there instead of against it. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Vermont prices, which matters when you are heating nine months a year. Choose it when the pipes are already in place, not when you would need to add them.
A Lamoille County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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