Furnace vs Boiler in Weld County, Colorado
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It ties into what's there, and with 69.6% of homes in this region already set up for one, you're likely in that position. Eight months of heating a year and nights down near 16°F call for equipment built to keep up, and a furnace does that through the ducts you already have.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the one that fits what's already there. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate than a furnace at Colorado gas prices, which adds up over eight months of heating a year. It won't help you add cooling later since it heats only, so it makes the most sense in a home that was never going to carry ductwork anyway.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It ties into what's there, and with 69.6% of homes in this region already set up for one, you're likely in that position. Eight months of heating a year and nights down near 16°F call for equipment built to keep up, and a furnace does that through the ducts you already have.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the one that fits what's already there. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate than a furnace at Colorado gas prices, which adds up over eight months of heating a year. It won't help you add cooling later since it heats only, so it makes the most sense in a home that was never going to carry ductwork anyway.
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 Weld 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 16°F night | Yes | Yes |
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, NOAA
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It ties into what's there, and with 69.6% of homes in this region already set up for one, you're likely in that position. Eight months of heating a year and nights down near 16°F call for equipment built to keep up, and a furnace does that through the ducts you already have.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the one that fits what's already there. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate than a furnace at Colorado gas prices, which adds up over eight months of heating a year. It won't help you add cooling later since it heats only, so it makes the most sense in a home that was never going to carry ductwork anyway.
A Weld County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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