Furnace vs Boiler in Boulder County, Colorado
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. Nights here drop to 17°F for months at a stretch, and a furnace paired with that ductwork can also carry central air conditioning when you want it. Most homes in this region are set up this way already, so you are not paying to add anything just to make the heat work.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is heated by radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Colorado prices, which adds up over a heating season that stretches close to 10 months here. Just know that a boiler only heats. If you want central air too, you will need a separate system for that.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. Nights here drop to 17°F for months at a stretch, and a furnace paired with that ductwork can also carry central air conditioning when you want it. Most homes in this region are set up this way already, so you are not paying to add anything just to make the heat work.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is heated by radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Colorado prices, which adds up over a heating season that stretches close to 10 months here. Just know that a boiler only heats. If you want central air too, you will need a separate system for that.
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 Boulder County.
In the Mountain West, 69.6% of homes heat with a furnace, so most already have the ductwork it needs.
If your home already heats through radiators or in-floor pipes and has 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 the Mountain West that heat with one | 69.6% | 4.3% |
| Handles a 17°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. Nights here drop to 17°F for months at a stretch, and a furnace paired with that ductwork can also carry central air conditioning when you want it. Most homes in this region are set up this way already, so you are not paying to add anything just to make the heat work.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is heated by radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Colorado prices, which adds up over a heating season that stretches close to 10 months here. Just know that a boiler only heats. If you want central air too, you will need a separate system for that.
A Boulder County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.