Furnace vs Boiler in Lake County, Montana
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the simpler choice. That same ductwork can carry air conditioning later, and with ten months of heating a year here, you want a system that draws on the ducts already in place rather than adding new piping.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler makes sense to keep. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Montana prices, and with winter nights averaging 20°F here, that adds up over a long heating season. Just know it heats only, 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 simpler choice. That same ductwork can carry air conditioning later, and with ten months of heating a year here, you want a system that draws on the ducts already in place rather than adding new piping.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler makes sense to keep. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Montana prices, and with winter nights averaging 20°F here, that adds up over a long heating season. Just know it heats only, 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 Lake 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 20°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 simpler choice. That same ductwork can carry air conditioning later, and with ten months of heating a year here, you want a system that draws on the ducts already in place rather than adding new piping.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler makes sense to keep. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Montana prices, and with winter nights averaging 20°F here, that adds up over a long heating season. Just know it heats only, so you would need a separate way to cool the house.
A Lake County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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