Removing old boiler?

Question

I'm towards the end of the demo portion of my first home purchase and renovation of a rowhome in Philadelphia, most of which I've been doing myself due to the pandemic. I'll be replacing the old baseboard hot water heating with HVAC ductwork. I've cut out most of the copper piping and need to get rid of the 25-year old boiler. Any recommendations on how I should go about getting it removed? My understanding is that it might still have some value, so I'm reluctant to pay someone to take it away. Any thoughts on how I might be able to value it? I'm not looking to make any significant amount of money on it, but would just like to be educated on its value. Thank you!

George W. · Answer

I'm a plumbing contractor would never pay someone for a used boiler. Or install a used one for a customer. It's worth scrap metal prices.

I think cast iron was like $7 per 100ilbs or something like that last time I went. I think light iron has been floating around $2/100ilbs. Most steam boilers I install weigh between 300-600ilbs in a house. So figure it's worth between $20-$45 scrap maybe $60 all in if you're lucky.

It's usually not even worth the trip to scrap yard. You're better off having some dude in a beater pickup truck take it for free just to get rid of it.

The controls that are on most boilers are also pretty much worthless when they're used. They really arent super expensive to buy new to begin with.

Steven Epps · Answer

Old boilers have some value because they.... work. Not as efficient as new boilers but they'll last much longer. I'd suggest calling around places that do HVAC *and* plumbing. You'll find one that also repairs boilers. How helpful they are on pricing it, and maybe buying it is a crap-shoot. In Philly you shouldn't have trouble finding someone to buy it, even if it's just for parts. I doubt you'll get $1k, but depending on what it is, you'll probably get a couple to several hundred dollars.

JD Martin · Answer

I have often had success on my properties getting rid of stuff that was a hindrance to me by selling it for removal - i.e., you get it free, but you get it out of here. Doesn't always work - I still have a 90 year old cast iron heating stove in the basement of one of my homes that was too big to move in current state, and not worth enough to cut up and move - but it's a good incentive to otherwise dispose of stuff. I've had it work for trees, old siding, scrap lumber, etc.

You have to make the determination what your end goal is - a couple hundred dollars for the scrap, or getting the thing gone pronto so you can finish your rehab and get the property on the market. Don't lose the forest for the trees.

David Niles · Answer

Another thing to watch out for on those old boilers is pipe wrapped in asbestos,  see it all the time in old houses.

Don Meinke · Answer

The size of the pieces when all apart vs size of egress doorways determines how small of pieces my sledge hammer has to make them.

You could try a Craig’s list ad but watch for bad apples.

My guess is , heavy clothes, goggles, and face mask AND a big hammer are in your future.  Does it have the big cast radiators  in every room also?  In the OLD days cast was the top dollar scrap price by far.

Any asbestos in this system?

Joseph ODonovan · Answer

@Adam Wodka I doubt it has any value. The labor to get it out of the house combined with the transportation of it makes it worthless. You should be happy if someone took it off your hands for FREE.

Adam Wodka · Answer

Unit used natural gas. Makes sense, will research scrap dealers. Thanks.

Steve Morris · Answer

What sort of fuel did it use?  If oil, what's the status of the tank?  If buried, remediation's a bigger issue.

Otherwise, scrap dealers is about it.

Removing old boiler?

Most Popular Reply