Furnace vs Boiler in Strafford County, New Hampshire
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice to keep using. It heats the air directly and brings your house up to temperature on the mornings when it's 16 degrees outside. The same ducts can carry air conditioning too, if you ever want to add it.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler is the right fit, since there is no ductwork to tie into. Heating with a boiler runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, and with 8 months of winter to heat through, that difference shows up on the bill.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice to keep using. It heats the air directly and brings your house up to temperature on the mornings when it's 16 degrees outside. The same ducts can carry air conditioning too, if you ever want to add it.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler is the right fit, since there is no ductwork to tie into. Heating with a boiler runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, and with 8 months of winter to heat through, that difference shows up on the bill.
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 Strafford County.
In New England, 54.8% of homes heat with a furnace, so just over half 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 installing ducts to fit 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 New England that heat with one | 54.8% | 26.2% |
| Handles a 16°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 to keep using. It heats the air directly and brings your house up to temperature on the mornings when it's 16 degrees outside. The same ducts can carry air conditioning too, if you ever want to add it.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes, a boiler is the right fit, since there is no ductwork to tie into. Heating with a boiler runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace, and with 8 months of winter to heat through, that difference shows up on the bill.
A Strafford County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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