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How much should a new boiler + install cost
11:18 AM 02/09/2013
A plumber is suggesting that we replace our steam boiler rather than putting money into an old (and apparantly leaking) Weil-Mclain. He quoted 10,800 for the boiler and install, including measuring the radiators to make sure we get the right boiler for them home. Seemed odd to me that the price is set before knowing what kind of boiler we need (2 floors in a 3 story building).
Any idea how much this should cost?
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Brooklyn, NY
brand of the boiler is not relevant t the price, they all priced the same, for similar sizes, unless you go to lower end, and even there they are priced very similar to one another. higher end follows same pattern. cost of installation skyrocketing when you stop cutting corners.
11:36 AM 02/09/2013 | 0 Votes
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Comments (4)
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I was unclear. By what kind I meant what size.
2:01 PM 02/09/2013
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Brooklyn, NY
usually experienced installer can guesstimate size of boiler by type and location of structure. even if mistake in guesstimate is within /-20% price difference between sizes is few hundred dollars. it is within safety cushion in estimate. it is steel cheaper than doing EDR survey and heat loss room by room. to do proper sizing end estimate takes almost a day and cost a lot of money. it is not possible to do for each estimate. unless customer pays for it separately.
2:07 PM 02/09/2013
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New York, NY
Gennady, I'm nost sure what you mean by your last answer. It takes about a half hour to do a room-by-room EDR calculation to determine boiler size. It should be part of every installer's estimating and installation process and done at no cost to the client. An envelope "heat loss" is unnecessary when sizing a steam boiler.
6:54 PM 02/09/2013
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Brooklyn, NY
This is a matter of opinion. I do not believe in free things given to everybody at their first request.I do not even belive there should be free estimates. But this is my opinion. You are right in aspect that steam boiler is sized up to existing radiators. But existing radiators are sized up to the rooms. And in this aspect i think it is important to do room to room heat loss and compare it to existing radiation. often radiators get removed, or house replanned with no regards to heating.
8:29 PM 02/09/2013
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Do yourself a favor. Call Joe the Plumber (no politics here). I have used him many times for work in rental units and personal use and have recommended him on this site. He is extremely reliable and trustworthy and his prices are excellent.
(917) 295-52432:29 PM 02/09/2013 | 0 Votes
Comments (1)
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Bedford Stuyvesant, NY
And get a few more estimates. Call Master Plumber as well
2:58 PM 02/09/2013
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It is very important that you determine the correct EDRadiation when sizing a steam boiler. And I agree it generally takes about 1/2 hour to do it correctly. We take that information, put it into a formula and than convert that information to the BTU output of radiation. At that point we choose the correct boiler size that will handle the system load correctly. We do this on every boiler replacement we are called on for an estimate. Only when sizing for hydronic hot water heating system do you need to do a heat loss on the building. It is much more involved and takes more time but again it is something you need to do.
8:17 PM 02/09/2013 | 0 Votes
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It is very important that you determine the correct EDRadiation when sizing a steam boiler. And I agree it generally takes about 1/2 hour to do it correctly. We take that information, put it into a formula and than convert that information to the BTU output of radiation. At that point we choose the correct boiler size that will handle the system load correctly. We do this on every boiler replacement we are called on for an estimate. Only when sizing for hydronic hot water heating system do you need to do a heat loss on the building. It is much more involved and takes more time but again it is something you need to do.
8:17 PM 02/09/2013 | 0 Votes
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NY
the non technical answer: i just replaced a steam boiler which services the top (4th) floor 800SF apartment. removal of old and install of new took 3 plumbers a full day. the boiler installed was a burnham IN5 (140000 BTU). it seemed like a high output unit but given the height of the steam risers it was needed to push the steam up to the top of the house. the unit instlf cost about $2500. the install was another $2000. I dont know the size of your house or what size boiler you need but $10800 sounds high.
11:42 AM 02/10/2013 | 0 Votes
Comments (3)
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Brooklyn, NY
Wow!! 140,000/4 floors = 35,000 BTU per floor to move steam up!! amazing math. I always wonder how steam goes up from my cup of tea. Where are those BTUs coming from. steam goes up, hmm by itself? hmm . i have to think about it. we have to move it with the boiler running maybe? I have to consult with those plumbers who explained it to you, while they oversized your boiler 8 times over probably.
11:39 PM 02/10/2013
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Carroll Gardens, NY
gennady ...you are funny as hell...this boiler must cost them a fortune in shot cycling...
8:19 PM 02/11/2013
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Brooklyn, NY
yea, but what a deal he got!!!!
10:13 PM 02/12/2013
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Brooklyn, NY
It is possible to get it installed for cost of the boiler plus $1,000 for labor. this is going price as i heard lately. Shop around and you can find amazing bargains.
11:34 PM 02/10/2013
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Crown Heights, NY
We had a new Crown gas / steam boiler installed two years ago for $6,800. Thats a for a 4,000 sq foot three story building. We used http://www.heatspan.com/
2:01 PM 02/11/2013 | 0 Votes
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