An unfinished basement featuring a grey forced-air furnace with metal ductwork, concrete block walls, exposed wooden joists, and a single hanging bare bulb.

Furnace vs Boiler in Caddo Parish, Louisiana

When a furnace makes sense

If your ductwork is already in place, a furnace is the simpler path. Winters here are short and mild, average lows around 38°F, so you're only asking it to work hard about five months of the year. Furnace air can also double up with central air conditioning off the same ducts.

When a boiler makes sense

A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor piping instead of ductwork. It runs about 5% cheaper to heat with than a furnace at Louisiana gas prices, which matters more in a house with no ducts to convert. Just know it only heats, so you would need a separate system for cooling.

When a furnace makes sense

If your ductwork is already in place, a furnace is the simpler path. Winters here are short and mild, average lows around 38°F, so you're only asking it to work hard about five months of the year. Furnace air can also double up with central air conditioning off the same ducts.

When a boiler makes sense

A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor piping instead of ductwork. It runs about 5% cheaper to heat with than a furnace at Louisiana gas prices, which matters more in a house with no ducts to convert. Just know it only heats, so you would need a separate system for cooling.

An unfinished basement containing a metal furnace with ductwork, exposed wooden joists on the ceiling, cardboard boxes, a coiled cable, and a single hanging incandescent bulb.

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

A gray metal boiler with a pressure gauge and piping installed in an unfinished stone-walled basement.

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 Caddo Parish.

Most homes in Caddo Parish were built around 1975, and a house that age already has ductwork in place, which is why the furnace makes more sense here.

About 5% lessto heat with a boiler than with a furnace, at Louisiana prices
38°Faverage winter low
42%of homes here heat with gas

If your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ductwork, a boiler is still the better fit.

Find a contractor
Compared onFurnaceBoiler
Cost to run hereCosts more to runAbout 5% less to run
What it doesHeats onlyHeats only
Handles a 38°F nightYesYes

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, NOAA

When a furnace makes sense

If your ductwork is already in place, a furnace is the simpler path. Winters here are short and mild, average lows around 38°F, so you're only asking it to work hard about five months of the year. Furnace air can also double up with central air conditioning off the same ducts.

When a boiler makes sense

A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor piping instead of ductwork. It runs about 5% cheaper to heat with than a furnace at Louisiana gas prices, which matters more in a house with no ducts to convert. Just know it only heats, so you would need a separate system for cooling.

A Caddo Parish contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.

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