Furnace vs Boiler in Bennington 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, with no new pipes or radiators to add. With winter nights averaging 13°F and nine months of heating ahead of you most years, you want a system that is already matched to your house.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated by radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the machine built for that setup. It heats water instead of air, so there is nothing to push through ductwork that was never installed. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Vermont prices, which adds up over nine months of heating a year.
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, with no new pipes or radiators to add. With winter nights averaging 13°F and nine months of heating ahead of you most years, you want a system that is already matched to your house.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated by radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the machine built for that setup. It heats water instead of air, so there is nothing to push through ductwork that was never installed. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Vermont prices, which adds up over nine months of heating a year.
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 Bennington 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 13°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, with no new pipes or radiators to add. With winter nights averaging 13°F and nine months of heating ahead of you most years, you want a system that is already matched to your house.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated by radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the machine built for that setup. It heats water instead of air, so there is nothing to push through ductwork that was never installed. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Vermont prices, which adds up over nine months of heating a year.
A Bennington County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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