Furnace vs Boiler in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air and sends it through the ducts you already have, and those same ducts can carry cooling in summer. Just over half the homes in this region are set up this way already.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts, a boiler matches what you already have. It runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, which counts for something across winter nights that average 25°F from December through February and about 8 months of heating each year. It only heats, so cooling would mean a separate system.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air and sends it through the ducts you already have, and those same ducts can carry cooling in summer. Just over half the homes in this region are set up this way already.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts, a boiler matches what you already have. It runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, which counts for something across winter nights that average 25°F from December through February and about 8 months of heating each year. It only heats, so cooling would mean a separate system.
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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region.
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 heats with radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler still makes more sense than putting in ductwork for a furnace.
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 25°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 sends it through the ducts you already have, and those same ducts can carry cooling in summer. Just over half the homes in this region are set up this way already.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts, a boiler matches what you already have. It runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, which counts for something across winter nights that average 25°F from December through February and about 8 months of heating each year. It only heats, so cooling would mean a separate system.
A South Central Connecticut Planning Region contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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