Furnace vs Boiler in Jefferson County, Missouri
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, since that same ductwork can carry air conditioning too. You are not paying to install and maintain two separate delivery systems, one for heat and one for cooling. Across this region, most homes are already set up this way, which is why the furnace is the common choice here.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is already plumbed for one, with radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. Running one costs about 5% less than a furnace at Missouri prices, which adds up over a heating season that runs 7 months long here. The tradeoff is that a boiler only heats, so you would still need a separate system for cooling.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice, since that same ductwork can carry air conditioning too. You are not paying to install and maintain two separate delivery systems, one for heat and one for cooling. Across this region, most homes are already set up this way, which is why the furnace is the common choice here.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is already plumbed for one, with radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. Running one costs about 5% less than a furnace at Missouri prices, which adds up over a heating season that runs 7 months long here. The tradeoff is that a boiler only heats, so you would still need a separate system for cooling.
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 Jefferson County.
In the Plains states, 77.6% 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 Plains states that heat with one | 77.6% | 6.5% |
| Handles a 25°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 that same ductwork can carry air conditioning too. You are not paying to install and maintain two separate delivery systems, one for heat and one for cooling. Across this region, most homes are already set up this way, which is why the furnace is the common choice here.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is already plumbed for one, with radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. Running one costs about 5% less than a furnace at Missouri prices, which adds up over a heating season that runs 7 months long here. The tradeoff is that a boiler only heats, so you would still need a separate system for cooling.
A Jefferson County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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