Furnace vs Boiler in Windsor County, Vermont
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace uses it and gets you heat fast on the cold nights here, when temperatures average 12°F. That ductwork also carries air conditioning in summer, which a boiler can't do. With nine months of heating needed most years, that matters.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the natural fit and it runs about 5% cheaper to heat with here than a furnace. It won't cool your home in summer, so it suits a house that either has no cooling system or handles that separately.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace uses it and gets you heat fast on the cold nights here, when temperatures average 12°F. That ductwork also carries air conditioning in summer, which a boiler can't do. With nine months of heating needed most years, that matters.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the natural fit and it runs about 5% cheaper to heat with here than a furnace. It won't cool your home in summer, so it suits a house that either has no cooling system or handles that separately.
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 Windsor 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 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 uses it and gets you heat fast on the cold nights here, when temperatures average 12°F. That ductwork also carries air conditioning in summer, which a boiler can't do. With nine months of heating needed most years, that matters.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the natural fit and it runs about 5% cheaper to heat with here than a furnace. It won't cool your home in summer, so it suits a house that either has no cooling system or handles that separately.
A Windsor County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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