Furnace vs Boiler in Somerset County, Maine
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 have, and with nights averaging 7°F through the winter here, you want a system that can recover a cold house fast. The same ducts also carry air conditioning later if you ever add it.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated by radiators or pipes in the floor, a boiler is the right fit rather than a change worth making. It heats water instead of air, which tends to hold heat more evenly through a long Maine winter, and it runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace. With no ductwork involved, it only makes sense where that piping is already in 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 have, and with nights averaging 7°F through the winter here, you want a system that can recover a cold house fast. The same ducts also carry air conditioning later if you ever add it.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated by radiators or pipes in the floor, a boiler is the right fit rather than a change worth making. It heats water instead of air, which tends to hold heat more evenly through a long Maine winter, and it runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace. With no ductwork involved, it only makes sense where that piping is already in 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 Somerset County.
In New England, 54.8% 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 and no 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 New England that heat with one | 54.8% | 26.2% |
| Handles a 7°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 have, and with nights averaging 7°F through the winter here, you want a system that can recover a cold house fast. The same ducts also carry air conditioning later if you ever add it.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home is heated by radiators or pipes in the floor, a boiler is the right fit rather than a change worth making. It heats water instead of air, which tends to hold heat more evenly through a long Maine winter, and it runs about 5% cheaper here than a furnace. With no ductwork involved, it only makes sense where that piping is already in place.
A Somerset County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.