As a well-reputed boiler installation and repair company, one of our goals is to keep our customers informed. We want to help you make the best decisions when it comes to your boiler, and that means helping you answer questions that aren’t always simple.
Whether or not you should move your boiler is one such question. There’s no easy answer since whether you “should” do something is subjective. Is moving your boiler going to free up a lot of space in your home or business? Will that space be more valuable to you than the cost of moving your boiler? If the answer to these questions is yes, then moving your boiler might be a good idea.
To help you make that decision, we’re going to analyze how much it costs to move your boiler, how long moving your boiler takes, where you should move your boiler to, and more. Let’s get moving!
Where Your Boiler Can Be Placed
Basement
Most boilers are found within the basements of buildings. Basements are often used for storage and may not be finished – they’re also spacious. That makes them ideal for boiler storage. Moreover, you’ll have room for all of the pipes extending from your boiler, which some people can find unsightly.
Another advantage of installing your boiler in the basement is that it makes your building somewhat more leak-resistant. Boilers installed in attics can quickly cause damage to lower floors when they leak – and though leaks are rare, this can be a serious concern. Boiler leaks are never a good thing, but when they occur in the basement, they’re contained to that level.
Garage
If your garage is heated (by your boiler, no less), then it’s a perfectly reasonable place to install your boiler. When your garage isn’t heated, on the other hand, boiler installation might not be the best plan. We are in Winnipeg, after all – and while there are frost-resistant boilers out there, they don’t work optimally in -50℃ weather.
Other locations
Modern boilers are more compact than they’ve ever been, so you can fit them almost anywhere in your home. Consider aesthetics, and talk to your installer about locations that you have in mind to see if your boiler will fit.
How Much Does Moving a Boiler Cost?
The costs of moving your boiler will vary depending on a number of different factors. The most important factor to keep in mind is the pipework. Installing pipework is one of the more expensive elements of boiler installation. If you’re going to have to build new pipework to every radiator (and dismantle the existing pipework), you may end up paying a lot just to move your boiler.
Other factors that can impact the price of moving a boiler include:
- Whether or not floorboards, carpets, and other obstructions need to be lifted/moved for pipework
- If the orientation of your flue vent needs to be changed (vertical flue vent for attics vs. horizontal in other areas)
- Whether or not we’ll need to drill into your walls (and then patch the holes) for the pipework.
That means the cost of moving a boiler can vary substantially for different buildings. Generally, you’re looking at a minimum of about $1000 to move your boiler to a different location – prices can soar up to $5000 or more if extensive new pipework is required. As you can imagine, the size of the building has an effect, too – if you’ve got to reroute 20 stories worth of pipework for a new boiler, things can get fairly expensive.
How long will it take to move my boiler?
Again here, the complexity of the project will dictate how long it will take. For relatively simple moves, it generally takes a day or two – very complex projects can take up to four days. Projects rarely take longer than that!
Can I Move My Boiler Myself?
No. Moving a boiler is a dangerous and complicated job. You’ll need at least two experienced technicians on-site to move your boiler – don’t trust anyone who says it’s a one-person project. You need to know plumbing, HVAC, and more to safely move a boiler.
What’s more, your boiler’s warranty will almost certainly be void if you attempt to move your boiler yourself. Before moving your boiler (even with a team of professionals), you should contact your boiler manufacturer and let them know you’re planning on moving the boiler. Doing so can help you ensure your warranty stays intact.
Looking for a team of qualified installers to move your boiler for you? Call Howell Mechanical. We move Winnipeg boilers. We also install them, repair them, and help our clients understand them.
We hope this article has helped you decide whether or not to move your boiler. Call us if you’d like an estimate of the costs!