BOILER SYSTEM - COST FOR REPLACEMENT?

[Cindy Mastin]

I have never had to replace a boiler system. Per a plumbing contractor who was at the rental property to replace a leaking boiler valve, he stated that his fear in replacing the valve is needing to shut the system down. Since we don't believe the system has been serviced in years....if ever, he doesn't think it will fire back up. Can any boiler experts out there give me an estimate as to how much a new system may end up costing if it does in fact need to be replaced? It is a 2bd/1ba on a crawl (800sf). TIA!

[John Warren]

@Cindy Mastin I would get multiple opinions on something like this. I have a boiler in a 9 unit building in Berwyn, IL, and I had four different contractors through. Three of them told me to replace the boiler as well as all of the hot water tanks. There were a lot of fear tactics being used, and some big numbers thrown around (20-25k). One of the guys recommended by some local land lords recommended replacing circulator pumps and doing a lot of maintenance. It ended up costing around 2k, and the boiler had no issues during the cold months when Chicago weather dropped to -40. 

I would imagine for a small system like yours that the all in cost won't be more than 5k. The big thing people miss with boilers is that the actual boiler rarely dies. It is normally the pumps, switches and auxiliary pieces that need to be replaced.