Furnace vs Boiler in Yellowstone County, Montana
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on the same gas line either machine would use, and with nine months of heating ahead of you and nights averaging 16°F, you want a system that matches what's already in your walls rather than one that asks you to add radiators or in-floor pipes.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the one built for that. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Montana prices, which adds up over a nine-month heating season and nights in the teens. It suits a house that either has that piping already or has no ducts to begin with.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on the same gas line either machine would use, and with nine months of heating ahead of you and nights averaging 16°F, you want a system that matches what's already in your walls rather than one that asks you to add radiators or in-floor pipes.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the one built for that. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Montana prices, which adds up over a nine-month heating season and nights in the teens. It suits a house that either has that piping already or has no ducts to begin with.
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 Yellowstone 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 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 house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on the same gas line either machine would use, and with nine months of heating ahead of you and nights averaging 16°F, you want a system that matches what's already in your walls rather than one that asks you to add radiators or in-floor pipes.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the one built for that. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Montana prices, which adds up over a nine-month heating season and nights in the teens. It suits a house that either has that piping already or has no ducts to begin with.
A Yellowstone County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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