How Much Does Boiler Replacement Cost in Chicago?

Boiler replacement in Chicago is a wide range, and anyone who quotes you a single number over the phone is guessing. A straightforward hot-water boiler swap in a bungalow sits at the low end; a steam boiler in a three-flat with piping corrections lands in the middle; a high-efficiency condensing boiler with new venting and controls is the top of the range. The honest way to price it is an in-home evaluation and a flat-rate quote before any work begins — which is how we do it.

What actually drives the price

• Steam vs. hot water. Steam boilers cost more to replace correctly — near-boiler piping has to be sized and pitched right or the new boiler will bang, surge, and die young. A big share of “bad boiler” calls we see are really bad piping from a cheap install.
• Size (and honest sizing). Bigger is not better. An oversized boiler short-cycles and wastes gas. We measure radiation and heat loss instead of just matching the old nameplate — the old one was often oversized too.
• Efficiency tier. Standard cast-iron boilers cost less up front and last decades; high-efficiency condensing boilers save gas every month but need new venting and annual maintenance to deliver it. Chicago’s old radiator systems don’t always run cool enough to let a condensing boiler actually condense — we’ll tell you which side of that line your house is on.
• Venting and code. Chimney liners, combustion air, gas line sizing, permits — the parts of the job you can’t see are the parts that keep it safe and legal.

Repair or replace?

Age alone doesn’t condemn a boiler — cast iron can run 40 years or more with annual maintenance. But a cracked section or a flooded boiler usually ends the conversation, and repeated no-heat winters on a unit past 25–30 years mean you’re paying for a new boiler one emergency call at a time. Our rule: if the repair costs more than a third of replacement and the boiler is past its expected life, replace — and we quote both side by side so the decision is yours with real numbers.

Ways to keep the cost down

Replace in the off-season if you can — a planned September install beats an emergency January one on price, scheduling, and stress. Keep the radiators and pipes; in most Chicago buildings converting to forced air costs far more than a new boiler and cools the house worse in summer than it heats in winter. And financing spreads a replacement over time instead of hitting all at once.

What’s included when we replace a boiler

Removal and disposal of the old unit, correct near-boiler piping, new safety controls, permits, startup and combustion testing, and a walkthrough of the system when we’re done. We service every major brand — Weil-McLain, Burnham, Peerless, and the rest — and install the right one for your building, not the one on sale.

Ready for real numbers on your building? Call Around the Town Heating & Cooling at (312) 243-9896 or schedule a boiler evaluation — flat-rate quotes, licensed and insured, serving Chicago boilers since 2004.