Furnace vs Boiler in Scott County, Iowa
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. Most homes in this region are set up this way, so you are not paying to add ducts on top of the equipment. It runs on natural gas and needs to hold up for about 8 months a year here, including winter nights that average 17°F from December through February.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Iowa prices, which adds up over the 8 months a year you are heating this house. The tradeoff is that it heats through those radiators or floor loops rather than air, so it only fits a home already set up for that kind of distribution.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. Most homes in this region are set up this way, so you are not paying to add ducts on top of the equipment. It runs on natural gas and needs to hold up for about 8 months a year here, including winter nights that average 17°F from December through February.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Iowa prices, which adds up over the 8 months a year you are heating this house. The tradeoff is that it heats through those radiators or floor loops rather than air, so it only fits a home already set up for that kind of distribution.
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 Scott 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 17°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. Most homes in this region are set up this way, so you are not paying to add ducts on top of the equipment. It runs on natural gas and needs to hold up for about 8 months a year here, including winter nights that average 17°F from December through February.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ducts. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at Iowa prices, which adds up over the 8 months a year you are heating this house. The tradeoff is that it heats through those radiators or floor loops rather than air, so it only fits a home already set up for that kind of distribution.
A Scott County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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