Furnace vs Boiler in Gallatin County, Montana
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace ties into what's there without any extra work. Winters here drop to 13°F on average and homes need heat about 10 months of the year, so the system needs to hold up to a long, cold season, and a furnace running on natural gas is built for that.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler fits without adding ductwork. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Montana prices, and with 10 months of heating a year here, that difference is worth something.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace ties into what's there without any extra work. Winters here drop to 13°F on average and homes need heat about 10 months of the year, so the system needs to hold up to a long, cold season, and a furnace running on natural gas is built for that.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler fits without adding ductwork. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Montana prices, and with 10 months of heating a year here, that difference is worth something.
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 Gallatin 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 13°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 ties into what's there without any extra work. Winters here drop to 13°F on average and homes need heat about 10 months of the year, so the system needs to hold up to a long, cold season, and a furnace running on natural gas is built for that.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler fits without adding ductwork. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Montana prices, and with 10 months of heating a year here, that difference is worth something.
A Gallatin County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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