Furnace vs Boiler in Deschutes County, Oregon
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air and pushes it through the ducts you already have, with nothing extra to install. With ten months of heating ahead and nights dropping to 22°F, you want a system that's common here and easy for a local contractor to service.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper to heat with than a furnace at Oregon gas prices, which adds up over a ten month heating season. It won't do you any good without the piping already in place, since a boiler can't use ductwork or feed a system built for one.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It heats the air and pushes it through the ducts you already have, with nothing extra to install. With ten months of heating ahead and nights dropping to 22°F, you want a system that's common here and easy for a local contractor to service.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper to heat with than a furnace at Oregon gas prices, which adds up over a ten month heating season. It won't do you any good without the piping already in place, since a boiler can't use ductwork or feed a system built for one.
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 Deschutes County.
In the Pacific states, 56.9% 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, the 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 Pacific states that heat with one | 56.9% | 1.6% |
| Handles a 22°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 and pushes it through the ducts you already have, with nothing extra to install. With ten months of heating ahead and nights dropping to 22°F, you want a system that's common here and easy for a local contractor to service.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home is set up with radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper to heat with than a furnace at Oregon gas prices, which adds up over a ten month heating season. It won't do you any good without the piping already in place, since a boiler can't use ductwork or feed a system built for one.
A Deschutes County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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