Furnace vs Boiler in Silver Bow County, Montana
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It ties into what most homes in this region already have, and with 11 months of heating season and nights averaging 14°F, you want a system that can push warm air fast when the temperature drops. Central air later is simpler too, since the ducts are already there.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up for radiators or in-floor heat rather than ducts. Running one here costs about 5% less than a furnace at current gas prices, which adds up over 11 months of heating. The tradeoff is that a boiler cannot deliver central air conditioning through the same lines, so you would need a separate way to cool the house.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It ties into what most homes in this region already have, and with 11 months of heating season and nights averaging 14°F, you want a system that can push warm air fast when the temperature drops. Central air later is simpler too, since the ducts are already there.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up for radiators or in-floor heat rather than ducts. Running one here costs about 5% less than a furnace at current gas prices, which adds up over 11 months of heating. The tradeoff is that a boiler cannot deliver central air conditioning through the same lines, so you would need a separate way to cool the house.
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 Silver Bow 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 runs on radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ductwork, a boiler is still the better fit.
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 14°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 ties into what most homes in this region already have, and with 11 months of heating season and nights averaging 14°F, you want a system that can push warm air fast when the temperature drops. Central air later is simpler too, since the ducts are already there.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up for radiators or in-floor heat rather than ducts. Running one here costs about 5% less than a furnace at current gas prices, which adds up over 11 months of heating. The tradeoff is that a boiler cannot deliver central air conditioning through the same lines, so you would need a separate way to cool the house.
A Silver Bow County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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