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What Is Involved in Installing a New Boiler? Factors to Consider for the Right Choice and Smoothest Transition

If a condo or co-op property you manage in New York City has a commercial boiler that’s nearing the end of its lifespan or isn’t getting the job done, you may be considering a new one. What is involved in installing a new boiler? This post will touch on many of the factors you want to consider in your planning so the installation goes smoothly and isn’t overly disruptive for building occupants.

Decide What Changes You Want with the New Boiler

Create a wishlist

In most properties, the boiler isn’t replaced until it’s on its last legs. But there are many other reasons why your property might be ready for a new one:

• – The current boiler occupies a large footprint, and you want one that takes up less space.
• – Your utility bills have been enormous because, even after proper service, the boiler doesn’t run efficiently.
• – After building renovations or additions, the present boiler isn’t adequate for the demand being placed on it.
• – The commercial boiler seems to need constant service long before it should due to age, which is costly and time-consuming, not to mention stressful.

Once you know what you don’t like about the current boiler, you can make a checklist of must-haves and nice-to-haves with the new one. Then you can talk to your boiler experts, like Calray Boilers, about which models meet your needs, which are easiest to service, and which are available within the timeframe and budget you have to work with (see more below).

Build a Budget

Plan for more than just the boiler itself

At this stage, there will probably be some back-and-forth between the boiler professionals and the powers that hold the purse strings, with you as the intermediary. You created a wish list for your new boiler, but now you have to see what that costs. Then you have to report back to the condo association or other decision-makers to see if that works for them.

Depending on the size of your building, a new commercial boiler could run anywhere from about $8,000 to nearly $100,000, with $25,000 to $75,000 being the average range. What factors affect the cost of the boiler unit itself?

• – The type of boiler you decide to install
• – The capacity of the boiler and how many radiators and/or space it is intended to serve
• – Whether the boiler is for hot water only or for both heat and hot water
• – Whether radiator heat is steam or hydronic
• – If hot water needs to be circulated to other building elements, like radiant floor heating

Availability, especially with recent supply chain issues, may also influence your price and selection. And, of course, the boiler’s features also come into play, similar to buying a new car.

Now, that’s just the cost of the boiler. You will need to budget for other items, or the possibility of other items, such as:

• – Installation labor
• – Removing and disposing of the old boiler
• – Additional plumbing components
• – Insulation, exhaust equipment, mounting straps, alarms, etc.
• – New pumps if the capacity is changing significantly
• – Automated boiler controls
• – Integration with other automated building systems
• – City permits and inspections
• – NYC Department of Buildings compliance requirements

There’s one more element of the installation you also need to budget for, and that’s a temporary heat and/or hot water source for building occupants during the transition period, as required by law. The installation will typically take somewhere between a few days and a few weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the job.

Develop a Timeline for the Change

Avoid chaos with thoughtful plotting

The more you can avoid installing a new boiler under emergency conditions, the better off you’ll be all around. You can choose the best time for everyone involved, and give building residents sufficient notification in case there is a slight interruption in their service or things are noisier than normal.

You can also plan out every step meticulously to match with your schedule for greater convenience. Your boiler specialist can order everything in a more leisurely fashion, with no rush shipping charges or worries about out-of-stock items.

For many property managers, spring and summer are better seasons during which to swap out a boiler, as you’re only providing hot water, not radiator heat too. And all the logistics of the installation are infinitely easier without worrying about snow, ice, and the possibility of a sub-zero cold snap.

Set Up an Annual Maintenance Service Agreement

Protect your building’s new investment

Once your boiler is installed, you want to extend its lifespan as long as you possibly can. Regular maintenance is key – not just daily and weekly in-house checks, which we encourage, but annual or biannual professional service calls. Many of our clients arrange for an expert boiler check in the late summer or fall before heat season starts, so they know everything is in good shape before the thermometer drops.

Calray Boilers makes routine commercial boiler maintenance easy with an annual boiler service agreement. You receive a reminder when it’s time for your regular service call, and your labor price is locked in for a year, no matter what. You’re also a priority Calray client, should we get really busy. We offer these agreements for our other clients as well, not just those who are installing new boilers.

If your boiler is near time for replacement, or if you would like to learn more about annual labor service agreements, Calray Boilers is happy to come out and speak with you. Call us at 212-722-5506 today to schedule your consultation.