Furnace vs Boiler in Will County, Illinois
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats through the ducts you have rather than asking you to add radiators or in-floor pipes. Most homes in this region are already set up this way, so the ducts are there and ready to use.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Illinois gas prices, and with 8 months of heating a year here, that difference adds up. If your house was never set up with ductwork, a boiler works with what you already have instead of against it.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats through the ducts you have rather than asking you to add radiators or in-floor pipes. Most homes in this region are already set up this way, so the ducts are there and ready to use.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Illinois gas prices, and with 8 months of heating a year here, that difference adds up. If your house was never set up with ductwork, a boiler works with what you already have instead of against 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 Will 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 heating pipes instead of ductwork, a boiler is still the better fit.
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 20°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 heats through the ducts you have rather than asking you to add radiators or in-floor pipes. Most homes in this region are already set up this way, so the ducts are there and ready to use.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts. It also runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Illinois gas prices, and with 8 months of heating a year here, that difference adds up. If your house was never set up with ductwork, a boiler works with what you already have instead of against it.
A Will County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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