How Much to Install a Combi Boiler 2018

Mar. 08, 2018

Boiler Buyer's Guide
Need to replace your old boiler? Wondering how much that will cost you when all is said and done?

Well, the cost to replace a boiler in New Jersey can range anywhere from $5,400 to $12,000+, with the average homeowner paying around $8,750.

Wondering where in that range you'll fall? It really all depends on 5 factors:

The type of boiler (combi vs traditional)
The boiler's efficiency rating
The boiler size
Whether you're converting from oil to gas
Additional costs

We'll discuss all of the factors in more detail below.

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Factor #1: The type of boiler you choose

Homeowners in our area have 2 choices when it comes to boiler types:

Traditional boilers: typically better for larger homes (3 or more bathrooms)
Combination boilers: typically better for smaller homes (2 or less bathrooms)

Traditional boilers: average cost range $5,400 to $12,000

A traditional boiler needs to be paired with a hot water tank in order to provide heating and hot water throughout the home. Because of this, traditional boilers are better suited for larger homes that:

Have the space to accommodate the larger unit and the water tank
Typically need to use more than one hot water appliance at a time

A traditional boiler

Combination boilers: average cost range $7,200 to $9,500

A combi boiler, on the other hand, provides both heating and hot water directly from one small, wall-hung unit (seen below).
Because the unit only provides hot water as it's needed, there is no need for a storage tank, which means the system works best for households that:

Don't have space to accommodate a larger boiler + hot water storage tank
Rarely use more than one hot water appliance at a time

Combination boilers are typically smaller than traditional boilers. The unit above can provide heating and hot water on demand.

Want to learn more about these 2 types of boilers? We suggest checking out our blog, "What's the Difference Between a Combi Boiler and a Traditional Boiler?".

For more personalized information, though, we suggest contacting a professional who can inspect your home and heating needs and determine which boiler is right for you.

Factor #2: Boiler efficiency rating

The higher the boiler's efficiency, the more expensive the overall installation price. But remember: Higher-efficiency units offer lower monthly energy bills.

Every boiler has an "AFUE" (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating that can range anywhere from 56% to 100% depending on the boiler type. A boiler's AFUE rating basically tells you what percentage of the fuel it consumes annually is converted into heat. So, the higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the boiler (and the lower their operational costs).

Example: A boiler with an 80% AFUE rating means that for every $100 spent on heating, $80 worth is converted into heat while the remaining $20 is wasted in the form of flue gases or standby heat loss via the storage tank.
Gas boilers are divided into 2 categories based on their AFUE ratings:

Non-condensing boilers: 56% to 88% AFUE ratings
Condensing boilers: 90% to 98.5% AFUE ratings

So what efficiency rating should you go with?

Well, it all depends how much money you want to spend upfront:

Willing to pay a higher upfront price? Then go with a "condensing" boiler and get a super efficient boiler.
On a budget? Then go with a non-condensing boiler.

Factor #3: The boiler size

The larger the boiler, the higher the overall cost of your boiler installation.

Boilers are sized according to how much heat they can provide in one hour, which is measured in "BTUs" (British Thermal Units—a unit of heat).

So what size do you need? Well, that can only be determined by a professional "heat load calculation".

A heat load calculation determines what amount of heating your particular home will need and takes into account a wide range of factors including:

How many windows/doors your home has
The amount of insulation your home has
How many people live in your home
How many floors your home has
How much direct sunlight your home gets
The type of flooring you have (carpet vs hardwood)
Etc.

Beware! When choosing your replacement boiler, don't make these 2 big mistakes:

Simply choosing a new boiler that matches the size of the old boiler (your old boiler could have been sized wrong initially)
Using rule of thumbs to size a boiler (i.e. only looking at square footage instead of getting a full load calculation)

Both mistakes above can easily result in oversized or undersized boilers.

Why oversized/undersized boilers are costly problems:

An oversized boiler can lead to dangerously high internal temperatures. This can strain the inner components and result in expensive repairs (or worse—boiler failure)
An undersized boiler will run longer than normal to try and heat your home. This can also cause unnecessary stress on your boiler and cause repairs or premature failure.

Factor #4: Whether you're converting from oil to gas

Here's the bottom line: If you're converting from an oil boiler to a gas boiler, it's going to increase the installation cost.

Several big steps are required to convert to a gas boiler, including:

Installing a gas hookup— this can cost up to $1,500 if you don't already have one installed at your home.
Having your chimney lined— this can cost up to $2,000. You see, most gas boilers vent exhaust gas via your chimney and in order to preserve your chimney, you'll need to have a protective lining installed.
Removing the old oil tank— this can cost up to $3,000.

Factor #5: Additional costs

The following tasks can increase the overall boiler installation cost:

Zoning your boiler system
Removing the old boiler
Environmental cleanups from old oil tanks

Need a boiler replacement quote from a New Jersey professional?

Just contact us for a FREE estimate.

We'll send out a professional who can inspect your current system and offer a fair estimate on a new boiler installation—all at no cost to you.
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