Furnace vs Boiler in Salt Lake County, Utah
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace uses it to heat the whole home, and that describes most homes across this region. Winter nights here average 22°F from December through February, and you need heat about eight months of the year, so you want that ductwork earning its keep instead of sitting unused.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler fits what is already there. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here, and with eight months of heating a year that difference adds up. It heats only, so it will not help if you are also weighing central air down the road.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace uses it to heat the whole home, and that describes most homes across this region. Winter nights here average 22°F from December through February, and you need heat about eight months of the year, so you want that ductwork earning its keep instead of sitting unused.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler fits what is already there. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here, and with eight months of heating a year that difference adds up. It heats only, so it will not help if you are also weighing central air down the road.
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 Salt 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 heat 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 22°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 uses it to heat the whole home, and that describes most homes across this region. Winter nights here average 22°F from December through February, and you need heat about eight months of the year, so you want that ductwork earning its keep instead of sitting unused.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler fits what is already there. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate here, and with eight months of heating a year that difference adds up. It heats only, so it will not help if you are also weighing central air down the road.
A Salt Lake County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.