Furnace vs Boiler in McHenry County, Illinois
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. Across this region most homes are built with ducts in place, so you are not paying to add a delivery system on top of the unit itself. It also works with central air, since the same ducts carry cooled air in summer.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. Winters here average 17°F and homes need heat for about 8 months of the year, and a boiler runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace over that stretch at Illinois gas prices. It will not move cooled air in summer, 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 straightforward choice. Across this region most homes are built with ducts in place, so you are not paying to add a delivery system on top of the unit itself. It also works with central air, since the same ducts carry cooled air in summer.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. Winters here average 17°F and homes need heat for about 8 months of the year, and a boiler runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace over that stretch at Illinois gas prices. It will not move cooled air in summer, 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 McHenry County.
In the Great Lakes states, 78.8% 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 Great Lakes states that heat with one | 78.8% | 7.7% |
| Handles a 17°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. Across this region most homes are built with ducts in place, so you are not paying to add a delivery system on top of the unit itself. It also works with central air, since the same ducts carry cooled air in summer.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. Winters here average 17°F and homes need heat for about 8 months of the year, and a boiler runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace over that stretch at Illinois gas prices. It will not move cooled air in summer, so you would need a separate way to cool the house.
A McHenry County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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