Furnace vs Boiler in DuPage County, Illinois
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, since it runs on the ducts you have. Those same ducts can also carry central air if you add it later. Winter nights here average 19°F from December through February, and with heat needed about eight months a year, a furnace built to run on the ductwork already in place is the simpler match.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the natural fit, since that is what it is built to run on. It also costs about 5% less to run here than a furnace, which adds up over a heating season that stretches close to eight months. It will not move air for central air conditioning, so that is worth weighing if you do not have cooling another way.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, since it runs on the ducts you have. Those same ducts can also carry central air if you add it later. Winter nights here average 19°F from December through February, and with heat needed about eight months a year, a furnace built to run on the ductwork already in place is the simpler match.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the natural fit, since that is what it is built to run on. It also costs about 5% less to run here than a furnace, which adds up over a heating season that stretches close to eight months. It will not move air for central air conditioning, so that is worth weighing if you do not have cooling another way.
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 DuPage 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 19°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, since it runs on the ducts you have. Those same ducts can also carry central air if you add it later. Winter nights here average 19°F from December through February, and with heat needed about eight months a year, a furnace built to run on the ductwork already in place is the simpler match.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is the natural fit, since that is what it is built to run on. It also costs about 5% less to run here than a furnace, which adds up over a heating season that stretches close to eight months. It will not move air for central air conditioning, so that is worth weighing if you do not have cooling another way.
A DuPage County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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