Furnace vs Boiler in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, and that's the case for just over half the homes in this region. The same ducts that carry heated air can carry cooled air in summer, so you're set up for central air without adding a second system. That's worth weighing against the boiler's lower running cost, especially with winter nights here averaging 24°F and eight months of heating most years.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler uses what's already there. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Pennsylvania prices, which adds up over eight months of heating a year and through winter nights that average 24°F. The tradeoff is that a boiler heats only, so cooling would mean a separate system.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, and that's the case for just over half the homes in this region. The same ducts that carry heated air can carry cooled air in summer, so you're set up for central air without adding a second system. That's worth weighing against the boiler's lower running cost, especially with winter nights here averaging 24°F and eight months of heating most years.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler uses what's already there. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Pennsylvania prices, which adds up over eight months of heating a year and through winter nights that average 24°F. The tradeoff is that a boiler heats only, so cooling would mean a separate system.
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 Allegheny 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 24°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, and that's the case for just over half the homes in this region. The same ducts that carry heated air can carry cooled air in summer, so you're set up for central air without adding a second system. That's worth weighing against the boiler's lower running cost, especially with winter nights here averaging 24°F and eight months of heating most years.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts, a boiler uses what's already there. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Pennsylvania prices, which adds up over eight months of heating a year and through winter nights that average 24°F. The tradeoff is that a boiler heats only, so cooling would mean a separate system.
A Allegheny County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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