Furnace vs Boiler in Broomfield County, Colorado
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It uses that ductwork to heat the whole house, and with 8 months of the year needing heat here, you want equipment that matches what's already in your walls. Most homes in this region are set up this way already.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Colorado prices, which adds up over eight months of heating season and nights that drop to 20°F. If you don't have ductwork, it also spares you from adding it just to run a furnace.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It uses that ductwork to heat the whole house, and with 8 months of the year needing heat here, you want equipment that matches what's already in your walls. Most homes in this region are set up this way already.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Colorado prices, which adds up over eight months of heating season and nights that drop to 20°F. If you don't have ductwork, it also spares you from adding it just to run a furnace.
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 Broomfield 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 instead of 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 20°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 uses that ductwork to heat the whole house, and with 8 months of the year needing heat here, you want equipment that matches what's already in your walls. Most homes in this region are set up this way already.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Colorado prices, which adds up over eight months of heating season and nights that drop to 20°F. If you don't have ductwork, it also spares you from adding it just to run a furnace.
A Broomfield County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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