A boiler repair typically costs anywhere between $200–$900+ in Denver, with the average cost being around $550.
But that price range depends on these 3 factors:
- What’s wrong with the boiler
- Whether or not the repair is covered under warranty
- How the contractor charges
Let’s go into more detail about each of these cost factors...
Cost factor #1: What’s wrong with the boiler
Just like any mechanical equipment, boilers can (and do) breakdown. But some boiler repairs are more expensive than others.
We’ll share a few common boiler repairs we see every year:
- Repairing circulator pump: A circulator pump moves hot water from the tank and sends it through the pipes to your radiators. If the circulator pump breaks, you won’t get any heat in your home. The cost to repair a circulator pump ranges from $700 to $1,500+.
- Flushing the boiler system: Over time, sediment can build up inside the boiler tank because of minerals carried in the water supply. This sediment can harm the tank and even cause the boiler to overheat (sediment acts like a blanket and interferes with heat transfer). The cost to have a professional flush your tank and clean sediment buildup is usually around $300–$600+.
- Sealing leaks: Sometimes leaks can develop in your boiler system which causes it to lose efficiency or stop working altogether. Additionally, leaks in your system can cause major water damage to your home, so you’ll want to get them fixed ASAP. The cost to fix a leak usually depends on how severe it is, and can range from $50–300+.
- Fixing a broken ignitor: A boiler ignitor is what turns the fuel (gas or propane) into heat. If it goes bad, you won’t get any heat. Luckily, these switches aren’t very expensive and usually cost $50–$150+ to replace.
Cost factor #2: Whether or not the repair is covered under warranty
Boilers typically last around 20–50 years. And if yours is covered under warranty, it may cover most repairs in the first year, and certain repairs for the first 5–10 years of the boiler’s life (depending on the warranty).
Warranties generally cover repairs related to manufacturing errors. If your repair is due to a manufacturing problem, warranties can cover 2 aspects of the repair:
- The replacement part (like a new circulator pump, heat exchanger, etc.)
- Labor to repair/replace the part (this isn’t as common, but some warranties offer this)
Warranties generally DON’T cover repairs caused by improper operation (i.e., the homeowner doesn’t use it right), careless installation or damage caused transporting the equipment.
Not sure what your boiler warranty covers? Search for your boiler manufacturer online and try searching for the warranty on their website. If you’re having trouble finding it, contact the manufacturer’s customer service department and ask them to point you in the right direction.
You can also contact the contractor who first installed your boiler to see if they know what warranty you have.
Cost factor #3: How the contractor charges
Every contractor charges a little differently for their boiler repair services. So, we suggest asking your contractor…
- Whether they charge for the service call if you have them repair the boiler
- How they charge for boiler repairs (hourly or flat-rate)
We’ll go into these 2 points more below...
#1: Service call charge
Most HVAC contractors charge a standard service call charge fee to visit your home a diagnose a repair. Sometimes contractors will waive this fee if you hire them to fix the repair in the same visit.
#2: Hourly vs. flat-rate pricing
- Hourly repair rate means the labor is priced by how long it takes to repair the problem. So, if a contractor charges by the hour, you’ll pay the cost of the replacement part plus the number of hours to repair the problem.
- Flat-rate pricing on the other hand is when a contractor gives you a fixed price on how much it would cost to fix the boiler, regardless of how long it takes them to do the repair. Flat-rate pricing usually has the cost of the replacement part included in it.
