Process to decomission a boiler and remove

HomeownerDustin

I need to decommission my gas hydronic boiler (1980's 100k BTU HydroTherm), as I've transitioned to heat pumps after the exchanger broke (we will use a gas fireplace insert as auxiliary heat source as needed).

Are these steps generally correct?:

• Turn off power to boiler
  
• Turn off and disconnect gas line. Cap gas line. (I will call a plumber to do this step)
  
• Disconnect electrical
  
• Turn off incoming water and Drain the system. (Will I need to cut a pipe to allow air in, and if so, where? Seems like cutting at each rad would make it flow.
  
• Disconnect and cap vent.
  
• Remove rads and distribution pipes
  
• Scrap copper with fittings removed as well as the boiler and rads (will probably bring copper to yard but take the boiler and rads to the town)
  

I'm considering paying someone to do the removal of the boiler, but I do want to keep the copper and pumps, as there is a ton of copper and I want to play with the pumps and reuse elsewhere on a DIY project. Is it strange to ask a plumber to just remove the boiler?

Intplm.

~ Look for any hazardous material when removing the boiler. ie. Asbestos??
~ Is it in a basement?

~ It is not strange to hire someone to remove a boiler.
~ Be sure to stay clear, and out of their way when they are doing it.

MikeAmann

Have you already gone through a winter with your heat pumps?
Can they sufficiently keep up? I would not remove the rads and distribution pipes until you can give a definite YES to this question. What if you, or a future homeowner wants to do back to rads and a boiler?

pecmsg

What heat pump?
central or Mini split?
Keep the boiler as a back up!

Robert O'Brien

MikeAmann said:

Have you already gone through a winter with your heat pumps?
Can they sufficiently keep up? I would not remove the rads and distribution pipes until you can give a definite YES to this question. What if you, or a future homeowner wants to do back to rads and a boiler?

This!

HomeownerDustin

Yes, the heat pumps are in. My backup will be a 30k BTU gas fireplace for this level. Current heat pump system is 36k BTU ductless multisplit. We intend to live here for many many, and we've begun architectural plans.

That said, I will be keeping the distribution and rads in until the architectural plans are complete.

The Steam Whisperer

Just remember that the low temperature heat pumps ( i.e. Hyper heat) stop providing any heat at all around -13F, when they are only providing 88% of design. So if you are in a climate like Chicago, which its records lows are -25F air temp and -80F wind chill, you will need 100% back up for your heat pump system. Also, with the electrical grid nearing maximum capacity during cold snaps over the majority of the country, electricity is becoming less reliable in the winter.