3 Questions to Ask When Replacing Your Commercial Boiler

The average cost of a new commercial boiler is about $50,000 but could be a lot more depending on your expenses.

And depending on the fuel source that the commercial boiler will use, your installation costs can range between $2,000 to $8,500. 

Every decision you make concerning the replacement of a commercial boiler will have financial and operational consequences later. Whether those consequences are negative or positive will depend on your choices.

Here are three questions to ask when replacing a commercial boiler.

Related: 6 Signs Your Building Needs Better Ventilation

What is a Commercial Boiler?

A commercial boiler is a pressurization system that uses fossil fuels or electricity to provide heat and heated water throughout a commercial facility.

Commercial boilers use oil, natural gas, or electricity to generate steam or hot water. The steam or heated water is then circulated throughout a commercial facility via fan coils, baseboard units, or radiators.

A commercial boiler designed for widespread industrial use has to work more powerfully and efficiently than a simple residential boiler. Commercial boilers must service hundreds of people in warehouses, factories, and skyscrapers. The average commercial boiler generates at least 300,000 BTUs, or British Thermal Units, per hour.

Any commercial replacement boiler should be as efficient as possible to save money and keep everyone comfortable. And the boiler that you choose to replace an old one will have operational and financial consequences for you and your business for years to come.

What Will be the Maintenance Costs?

Your annual maintenance costs will vary depending on the size, type, and age of the boiler. Newer model commercial boilers are more energy-efficient than older models.

And you need to know what kind of fuel your new commercial boiler will use. That way, you can calculate your annual energy or fuel delivery bills. 

What is the Efficiency Standard?

The United States Department of Energy has been trying to institute a national efficiency standard of 90.1% for commercial boilers since 2009.

However, these efforts have been stalled by amendments and lawsuits until 2020. As of January 2020, the national efficiency standard for commercial boilers can range between 81% to 88%.

But depending on the age, size, and type of the commercial boiler, the efficiency standard can be as low as 74% to 84%.

Your commercial boiler should be anywhere between 90% to 95% efficient when in use. The lower the efficiency rating, the more fuel you will waste and the less efficient it will operate.

And understanding the efficiency rating can also help you better calculate the commercial boiler’s lifetime maintenance costs.

H2 Used or New?

Whether you buy a new or used commercial boiler is up to you. However, you could end up paying for your decision later on if you make the wrong decision.

Newer commercial boilers may be more expensive, but they are extremely efficient and are designed to last for up to 15 years with regular maintenance.

A used commercial boiler will be cheap but could end up costing you more money in the long run. A malfunctioning used commercial boiler will use more energy than normal and cause energy bill spikes. And if it breaks down often, you will end up paying more money for repair bills.

Getting a used commercial boiler could end up costing you more than getting a new one in the long term. 

If you need help replacing a commercial boiler, then contact Standard Heating and Plumbing today. 

Related: 5 Reasons To Consider a Career as a Commercial HVAC Technician