Furnace vs Boiler in Lawrence County, South Dakota
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace uses it as is, and that same ductwork can carry air conditioning, which a boiler can't do. Most homes in this region are already set up with ducts, so this is the case for most houses here. With winter nights averaging 13°F and heat needed about 10 months a year, having a system that can also cool the house the other two months is worth something.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is built for that, and there's no ductwork to add. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at South Dakota prices, which adds up over the 10 months a year you're likely running it. You'll still need a separate system for cooling, since a boiler only heats.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace uses it as is, and that same ductwork can carry air conditioning, which a boiler can't do. Most homes in this region are already set up with ducts, so this is the case for most houses here. With winter nights averaging 13°F and heat needed about 10 months a year, having a system that can also cool the house the other two months is worth something.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is built for that, and there's no ductwork to add. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at South Dakota prices, which adds up over the 10 months a year you're likely running it. You'll still need a separate system for cooling, since a boiler only heats.
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 Lawrence 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 13°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 uses it as is, and that same ductwork can carry air conditioning, which a boiler can't do. Most homes in this region are already set up with ducts, so this is the case for most houses here. With winter nights averaging 13°F and heat needed about 10 months a year, having a system that can also cool the house the other two months is worth something.
When a boiler makes sense
If your home heats through radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts, a boiler is built for that, and there's no ductwork to add. It runs about 5% cheaper than a furnace at South Dakota prices, which adds up over the 10 months a year you're likely running it. You'll still need a separate system for cooling, since a boiler only heats.
A Lawrence County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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