Furnace vs Boiler in Flathead County, Montana
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on natural gas and pushes heat through the same ducts that most homes in this region were built with, so there's no new heat distribution system to add. With winter nights averaging 17°F and heat needed nearly 11 months of the year, that ductwork can also carry a central air conditioner in summer, which a boiler cannot do.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler is worth a look if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over 11 months of heating a year. It won't move cool air in summer, so if you also want air conditioning, that has to come from somewhere else.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on natural gas and pushes heat through the same ducts that most homes in this region were built with, so there's no new heat distribution system to add. With winter nights averaging 17°F and heat needed nearly 11 months of the year, that ductwork can also carry a central air conditioner in summer, which a boiler cannot do.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler is worth a look if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over 11 months of heating a year. It won't move cool air in summer, so if you also want air conditioning, that has to come from somewhere else.
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 Flathead 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 ducts, 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 17°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 runs on natural gas and pushes heat through the same ducts that most homes in this region were built with, so there's no new heat distribution system to add. With winter nights averaging 17°F and heat needed nearly 11 months of the year, that ductwork can also carry a central air conditioner in summer, which a boiler cannot do.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler is worth a look if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here than a furnace, which adds up over 11 months of heating a year. It won't move cool air in summer, so if you also want air conditioning, that has to come from somewhere else.
A Flathead County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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