Furnace vs Boiler in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It also gives you the option to run central air through the same ducts. With eight months of heating and nights averaging 24°F, you want equipment that can keep up, and a furnace does that well through a duct system already in place.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler fits what you already have. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over eight months of heating season. Boiler heat also holds steady through the coldest nights without the on-off cycling you feel with forced air.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It also gives you the option to run central air through the same ducts. With eight months of heating and nights averaging 24°F, you want equipment that can keep up, and a furnace does that well through a duct system already in place.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler fits what you already have. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over eight months of heating season. Boiler heat also holds steady through the coldest nights without the on-off cycling you feel with forced air.
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 Southeastern 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 has radiators or in-floor pipes and no ductwork, a boiler still makes more sense than cutting in ducts 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 24°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 also gives you the option to run central air through the same ducts. With eight months of heating and nights averaging 24°F, you want equipment that can keep up, and a furnace does that well through a duct system already in place.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler fits what you already have. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over eight months of heating season. Boiler heat also holds steady through the coldest nights without the on-off cycling you feel with forced air.
A Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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