Which Boiler

mikey

I am converting oil to gas. I have the following boiler quotes (including installation and removal of old boiler):

(1) Weil McClain PEG-45 150,000 btu SPDN - $4,300


(2) Genesis gas fired steam boiler - $4,475

(3) Weil-McLain PEG-55 200,000, BTU Steam Boiler - $4,775

I live in South Bergen, NJ.

Any suggestions? Any preference?

Thanks again.

Robert O'Connor_7

Price??

Talking price is typically frownded upon on this site. Did the contractor go room to room and measure every radiator? Are they licensed, bonded, & insured? Are the required permits going to be filed? What material are they going to use? Black pipe or Copper? Why are their two boiler sizes (leading me to belive the size(s) may be inaccurate)?? Did you find your contractor here or somewhere else? Price is only comparative when its "apples to apples". After all this..........Thats hard to say...need more info...South Bergen County..What town?.............Robert O'Connor/NJ

Constantin

There is simply not enough info here...

Your post makes me suspect that you're simply price-shopping. Please, don't do that... What I love about the Wall is the knowledge that kind and considerate folks dispense freely every day. When a question is posed the way yours are, the whole thing feels a bit cheap. But that's just my opinion, there are undoubtedly those that will disagree with me.

Coming back to the topic on hand... a boiler is but a small part of the system. Furthermore, given that you have several significantly different boiler sizes makes me suspect that someone did not perform a heatloss calculation... or that they perhaps offer different features like indirect water heating vs. conventional water heating, etc.

In other words, you are currently presenting us with like 10% of the information to make even a ballpark guesstimate of what is or is not proper in terms of pricing. Even so, folks here generally avoid pricing questions for good reason: Even if you lay out the quotes in their entirety anyone less than omniscient would not know every feature to be installed, every item needed, etc. on your job.

Lastly, one pricing issue you should also consider is the quality of the installer. There is no point in letting a hack destroy your wallet further down the road when an improperly-installed system finally lets go. So,

• Did you get references?
• Have you seen previous installations?
• Have you checked the BBB listings?
• Did the installer do a Manual-J-compliant heatloss calculation?
• What kind of a heating system is installed currently?
• etc... and so much more which will determine your satisfaction with the system

clammy

prices

Without even looking at the job those prices wouldn,t even get me outta bed sounds like you'll be gettting copper header and no insulation iwould call around and get somebodt who really knows how to do steam properly check out find a pro i think ken S is in your hood good luck and peace

Ken_8

Mikey...

The quoted prices are not realistic. Unless of course:

1) They will re-use all the existing near boiler piping - which is probably rusted and or improperly arranged for the new boiler manufacturer's spec. - resulting in nightmares of the first order.

2) They will not replace any radiator vents or the main vents.

3) They will re-use most of the old feedwater piping, take no permits and not install the code required backflow preventer.

4) They have no insurance and will not have a license (required for the BFP install)

5) They will not insulate the missing or removed insulation that is essential for proper operation.

6) They will size the boiler improperly - based on the boiler that's there (rather than measuring each radaiator in the house - the right way.)

7) They will use copper instead of steel piping because its faster.

8) They will not clean or skim the new boiler and it will prime and surge for the next ten years adding to problems and banging like the anvil chorus.

9) They will tap into the existing gas lines and not install the always required new trunk line from the meter.

10) They will wire the boiler with romex rather than EMT and couldn't pass inspection on that alone.

11) They must "line" the chimney if it is on an outside wall (as opposed to the middle of the house - which may not require a liner) and be in direct violation of code.

12) They will fail to mention the code requires a CO detecetor be installed with the boiler - that's code.

Other than that? The prices look pretty damn good!

I'm in north Jersey too (Rahway by Route 1 & 9) Need to chat? (732) 388-1794. I'm running out now, but will be in the office all day tomorrow.

Good luck.

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Kal Row

mikey, there is a difference between cheap and inexpensive


For a real contractor, IE one that will be do a professional job and be available to you when the chips are down, the cost of simply being in business, with a truck, phone answering, insurance, and one helper, is apx 100$ per hour, and as such, the prices quoted are too “cheap”

clammy

yes oh yes ken

Thanks ken all those reason are exactly what all the guys do on all the steramers that i service yet didn't get a shot at replacement because the other guy was cheaper but as you posted they did none of what we deem is suppose to be done .It's funny though they never come back to service the unit but they did get the money peace clammy

Jim_44

co detector

Ken, You mentioned that a CO detector is required with the install--- do you mean near the boiler or in the living space. I looked up some info on CO detectors And they dont recomend putting it near the boiler/furnace. I will be buing one soon and just want to know if i can put it near the boiler in the basement. Thanks Jim (HO)

Mark Hunt

Detector location


We recommend putting CO alarms in the living space, usually on a nightstand in the bedroom.

You probably wouldn't hear the alarm if it was in the basement, so putting it there is not the best option.

Hope this helps.

Mark H

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Ken D.

Boiler

I like Weil-McLain,but I see there is a 50,000 btu difference between two of them. No btu on the Genesis given. Be sure to have the proper heat load calculated. You don't want over or undersizing.

Weezbo

are you being given a quote on the boiler and two unions?

maybe its a similar piping arrangement....what kind of boiler exists presently? i am really reasonable and it sounds too low to me. a old steam hand whos really hungry might do the work for that in that in his day that would have been a fortune...nowadays that little more than covers parts.grocery and gas money. last year i put a boiler in for a family of 6 in the dead of winter out on some hill in the middle of nowhere, for that, and managed cat food out of it:) and blew the seal in my tranny on my one ton trying to turn around in the guys yard.dont even Think what my cost was for a two week vacation for my truck in a heated shop.

Robert O'Connor_7

HEY MIKEY!!!!

You ask questions but yet do not respond to the answers. Is your computor exit only?? Robert O'Connor/NJ

Robert O'Connor_7

Bump up..

bump