Furnace vs Boiler in Utah County, Utah
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace uses it directly, and that same ductwork carries air conditioning in summer. Across the region, most homes are already set up this way, so a furnace usually fits without changes to the house.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of vents, a boiler is built for that, and it runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace. With winter nights averaging 18°F and heat needed most of the year, that difference adds up. A boiler only heats, though, so you would still need a separate way to cool the house in summer.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace uses it directly, and that same ductwork carries air conditioning in summer. Across the region, most homes are already set up this way, so a furnace usually fits without changes to the house.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of vents, a boiler is built for that, and it runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace. With winter nights averaging 18°F and heat needed most of the year, that difference adds up. A boiler only heats, though, so you would still need a separate way to cool the house in summer.
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 Utah 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 18°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 uses it directly, and that same ductwork carries air conditioning in summer. Across the region, most homes are already set up this way, so a furnace usually fits without changes to the house.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of vents, a boiler is built for that, and it runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace. With winter nights averaging 18°F and heat needed most of the year, that difference adds up. A boiler only heats, though, so you would still need a separate way to cool the house in summer.
A Utah County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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