Furnace vs Boiler in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air directly and pushes it through the ducts you already have, with nothing extra to install. With winter nights here averaging 27°F, you want that ductwork earning its keep instead of sitting unused.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts, a boiler is the machine built for that. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate than a furnace at Pennsylvania gas prices, so over seven months of heating a year that difference adds up. It makes the most sense when the house was never set up for ductwork in the first place.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air directly and pushes it through the ducts you already have, with nothing extra to install. With winter nights here averaging 27°F, you want that ductwork earning its keep instead of sitting unused.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts, a boiler is the machine built for that. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate than a furnace at Pennsylvania gas prices, so over seven months of heating a year that difference adds up. It makes the most sense when the house was never set up for ductwork in the first place.
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 Delaware County.
In the Mid-Atlantic, 51.4% 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 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 Mid-Atlantic that heat with one | 51.4% | 27.9% |
| Handles a 27°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 the air directly and pushes it through the ducts you already have, with nothing extra to install. With winter nights here averaging 27°F, you want that ductwork earning its keep instead of sitting unused.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or pipes in the floor rather than ducts, a boiler is the machine built for that. It runs about 5% cheaper to operate than a furnace at Pennsylvania gas prices, so over seven months of heating a year that difference adds up. It makes the most sense when the house was never set up for ductwork in the first place.
A Delaware County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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