Furnace vs Boiler in Jefferson County, Colorado
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It can also carry central air conditioning through the same ducts, which a boiler cannot do. With winter nights averaging 18°F and heat needed about nine months a year, you want equipment that matches what's already in your walls.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the one built to use them. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over nine months of heating season. It won't handle central air conditioning, so it suits a home that either doesn't need that or cools another way.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It can also carry central air conditioning through the same ducts, which a boiler cannot do. With winter nights averaging 18°F and heat needed about nine months a year, you want equipment that matches what's already in your walls.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the one built to use them. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over nine months of heating season. It won't handle central air conditioning, so it suits a home that either doesn't need that or cools another way.
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 Jefferson 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 has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ductwork, a boiler still makes more sense than adding 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 the Mountain West that heat with one | 69.6% | 4.3% |
| Handles a 18°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 can also carry central air conditioning through the same ducts, which a boiler cannot do. With winter nights averaging 18°F and heat needed about nine months a year, you want equipment that matches what's already in your walls.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler is the one built to use them. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over nine months of heating season. It won't handle central air conditioning, so it suits a home that either doesn't need that or cools another way.
A Jefferson County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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