Furnace or Boiler: What’s the Difference?

While most people use the generic term “furnace” when they’re talking about their home heating system, there’s actually a difference between a furnace and a boiler. Simply put, furnaces heat air and boilers heat water. 

• Homes with a furnace have ducts throughout the house, which get the warmed air from the furnace to each room. 
• Homes with a boiler have pipes throughout the house—leading to baseboard, radiators or radiant floor systems in each room. 

Upgrading Your System

Generally speaking, if your home is already built and you’ll be upgrading your heating system, you may find it makes sense to replace your equipment with the same type of system you’re currently using. This will allow you to replace only the equipment that needs upgrading while continuing to use the parts of your system that don’t need replacing. 

Converting from Heating Oil to Propane

Due to advanced technology, propane appliances are popular because they're extremely energy efficient, and may help you save on annual energy costs. Propane is also a “green” energy, approved in the 1990 Clean Air Act because it produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to many other energy sources. Perhaps best of all, propane can fuel your entire house—including your water heater, clothes dryer, stove and even the grill on your deck.  

Designing a New System

If you’re building a new home, our Residential Energy Advisor can help you choose a system that works best for your lifestyle and energy-saving goals. Every boiler and furnace installation includes a free initial year of the SharePlus Service Plan, which covers the cost of your first tune-up.

Start With a Free Estimate

When you request a free estimate, our Residential Energy Advisor will guide you through every step of the process: from deciding whether propane or heating oil is the right choice for your family, to discussing which brand and model system to install—and even helping identify the most current government tax credits and manufacturer rebates.