Boiler Replacement and Installation in Des Plaines
Replacing a boiler is not a matter of matching the plate on the old one. The new equipment has to be matched to the actual heat loss and, for steam, to the connected radiation — and the distribution system has to be evaluated before anything is ordered.
Tell us what the system is doing when you call — that decides which truck and which parts head to your address.
Sizing a replacement correctly
Hot-water boilers are sized to the building's heat loss. Steam boilers are sized to the connected radiation — the total square footage of the radiators the boiler has to fill — which is a different calculation entirely and the one most often skipped. An oversized steam boiler short-cycles, wastes fuel, and produces the uneven heat and banging that homeowners assume is normal for radiator systems.
Because many Chicagoland homes have been insulated and re-windowed since the original boiler was installed, the correct replacement is frequently smaller than what is coming out. We measure and calculate rather than assume.
Evaluating the distribution system
Before quoting equipment we look at what the boiler will be feeding: radiator and baseboard condition, main and radiator venting on steam systems, near-boiler piping, circulators, zone valves and controls on hot-water systems, and manifolds and loops on radiant floors. Near-boiler piping in particular determines whether a new steam boiler delivers dry steam or carries water into the mains.
Where the distribution system has problems, we say so and price the correction with the replacement. Installing good equipment onto a system that cannot distribute the heat is how a new boiler ends up performing no better than the one it replaced.
Efficiency options for steam and hot water
Hot-water systems can often use a condensing boiler and gain real efficiency, provided the system can operate at lower water temperatures — radiant floors and generously sized baseboard are good candidates, while small cast-iron radiation sometimes is not. Steam systems do not condense; efficiency there comes from correct sizing, tight piping, proper venting and good controls.
We explain which category your system falls into rather than selling the highest rating available. Efficiency you cannot use is money spent for nothing.
Installation and startup testing
Installation covers removal and disposal of the old boiler, new near-boiler piping built to the manufacturer's specification, gas and venting, condensate where applicable, controls and safeties, and a proper fill, purge and skim on the water side.
Startup includes verifying gas pressure and combustion, checking operating and safety controls, purging air, balancing zones, and running the system through a full cycle while watching the pressure, temperature and distribution. We walk you through the controls, the fill procedure and the maintenance interval before we leave.
Repair or replace a boiler?
Cast-iron boilers are long-lived, so age alone is not a reason to replace one. A cracked section, a leaking block, chronic pressure loss from internal corrosion or an obsolete unit with no available parts are. Failed controls, circulators, valves and vents are usually repairs, and we treat them as such.
If the decision is close, we quote both paths and let you compare. Current problems are covered on our boiler repair page.
Qualifying installations may include our lifetime product, labor and parts warranty program; terms and eligibility apply.
Where we do this work
We work from 2093 Rand Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016 and cover Cook and DuPage county communities plus Chicago. Every community is listed on our service areas page, or start with one of these:
Questions we are asked about this service
How is a steam boiler sized?
To the connected radiation — the total capacity of the radiators it has to fill — not to the heat loss of the building. Sizing a steam boiler the way a hot-water boiler is sized leads to short cycling and uneven heat.
Can I put a high-efficiency condensing boiler on my system?
Sometimes. Condensing boilers earn their efficiency at lower water temperatures, so radiant floors and generously sized baseboard suit them well. Systems with small cast-iron radiation may never run cool enough to condense, and a conventional boiler is the better value there.
Does the radiator piping need to change?
The near-boiler piping is normally rebuilt to the new manufacturer's specification, which is essential for steam. The rest of the distribution system usually stays, though we will point out venting, pitch or circulator problems that would limit how the new boiler performs.
How long does a boiler replacement take?
Most residential replacements run one to two days depending on the piping, venting and whether the system is steam or hot water. We give a schedule with the quote so you know how long the heat will be down.
Related services
Schedule this service
Call 847-550-3322 for Des Plaines and the suburbs, or 773-250-6060 in Chicago. You can also request service online.