When It's Time for a New Boiler
Boilers don't quit all at once. They give you warnings first. Maybe your heating bills have been creeping up year after year. Maybe you hear banging or kettling sounds when the system fires up. Uneven heat throughout the house is another classic sign. If your boiler is over 15 years old and needs frequent repairs, you're probably spending more to keep it running than a new unit would cost.
We've been installing and replacing boilers in Dracut and the Merrimack Valley for over 30 years. Donald Pimentel and the team at Dracut Plumbing and Heating know these older New England homes inside and out. Many still have original cast iron boilers from the 1970s or 80s. Those units were built tough, but they run at 60-65% efficiency on a good day. A modern high-efficiency boiler runs at 95% or better. That difference shows up on every gas or oil bill.
Types of Boilers We Install
Gas Boilers
If you have natural gas available, a gas boiler is usually the most cost-effective option. We install both standard and high-efficiency condensing models. Condensing boilers extract extra heat from exhaust gases that older units waste, pushing efficiency above 95%.
Oil Boilers
Plenty of homes in the Dracut area still run on oil. If you're staying with oil, we can set you up with a modern unit that burns much cleaner and more efficiently than what you have now. We also handle oil-to-gas conversions if you want to make the switch.
High-Efficiency and Combi Boilers
Combi boilers handle both your heating and your domestic hot water in one compact unit. No separate water heater needed. They're a great fit for smaller homes or when you want to free up space in the basement.
What the Installation Looks Like
We start with a site visit to assess your current system and your home's heating needs. Every house is different. Square footage, insulation, number of zones, and the existing piping all factor into sizing the right boiler. An oversized boiler wastes energy. An undersized one can't keep up in January.
On install day, we remove and dispose of the old unit, set the new boiler, connect all piping and controls, and test everything. Most replacements take one day. If we're converting from oil to gas or making significant piping changes, it may take two days. We pull all required permits and schedule the inspection with the town.
Cost Factors
The price of a boiler installation depends on the type and size of the unit, the complexity of the piping, and whether you're doing a straight swap or a fuel conversion. We give you an honest quote up front with no hidden fees. We'll also let you know about any available rebates from Mass Save or your utility company. Many high-efficiency installations qualify for significant rebates that bring the cost down.
Licensed in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Give us a call at {c.phone} or send us a message to set up a free estimate. We also handle radiant heating and water heater replacement if you're looking to upgrade your whole system.