The numbers we actually see
A well-maintained firetube boiler routinely runs 25–30 years, and we service boilers in the Intermountain West older than that. A neglected one can be scrap in ten. The spread between those outcomes is not luck — it's water treatment, operating practice, and maintenance.
What actually kills boilers
- — Bad water: oxygen pitting and scale kill more boilers than burners ever will
- — Cycling: short-cycling from oversizing stresses refractory and welds every start
- — Deferred maintenance: small leaks and soot become tube failures and efficiency collapse
- — Low-water incidents: one dry-fire event can end a boiler on the spot
Retube, rebuild, or replace
A boiler with a sound shell is worth saving: Servco retubes and performs ASME code repairs that buy another decade or more at a fraction of replacement cost. The replacement conversation starts when the shell itself is compromised, parts are unobtainable, or efficiency of a modern unit (like a condensing ClearFire on hot-water systems) pays the difference in fuel.
Our BOOST analysis puts real numbers on that decision — current efficiency, fuel spend, and what a repair versus a replacement actually returns.
Talk to a boiler pro, not a call center
24/7 across Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. Since 1956.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to replace a commercial boiler?+
It ranges widely with capacity, fuel, venting, and rigging access — from tens of thousands for small commercial units to well beyond for industrial installations. A site visit and load analysis produce a real number; we do both.
What is a boiler retube?+
Replacing the boiler's tubes while keeping the shell — a major service that restores heat transfer and pressure integrity. Done by ASME code welders, it can extend life 10–15+ years.
When is repair no longer worth it?+
When the shell or tube sheets are compromised, code repairs stack up annually, or fuel savings from a modern boiler out-earn the repair budget. We'll show you the math either way.