Furnace vs Boiler in Wasatch County, Utah
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 area already have, and with ten months of heating season and nights averaging 14°F, you want a system that can push warm air fast when the temperature drops. Natural gas keeps it running at a lower cost than electric options.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace here, which adds up over a ten-month heating season. The tradeoff is that it only heats through those radiators or floor lines, so it fits best in a house already built around them, or one where you want that kind of heat and are open to adding it.
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 area already have, and with ten months of heating season and nights averaging 14°F, you want a system that can push warm air fast when the temperature drops. Natural gas keeps it running at a lower cost than electric options.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace here, which adds up over a ten-month heating season. The tradeoff is that it only heats through those radiators or floor lines, so it fits best in a house already built around them, or one where you want that kind of heat and are open to adding it.
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 Wasatch 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 still makes more sense than adding ducts for a furnace.
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 area already have, and with ten months of heating season and nights averaging 14°F, you want a system that can push warm air fast when the temperature drops. Natural gas keeps it running at a lower cost than electric options.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace here, which adds up over a ten-month heating season. The tradeoff is that it only heats through those radiators or floor lines, so it fits best in a house already built around them, or one where you want that kind of heat and are open to adding it.
A Wasatch County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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